Nairobi: Residents of Nandi County have called for a major shift in the way government communicates with the public, emphasizing the need for professional delivery of information on government projects, programs, policies, and services.
According to Kenya News Agency, the residents argue that government communication should be managed by professional information and communication officers rather than political leaders. They believe that politicians often struggle to gain public confidence due to perceived partisanship, which affects their ability to effectively communicate government initiatives.
John Komen, a communication expert from Songhor-Soba Ward in Tinderet Sub-county, highlighted that professional information and communication officers are better suited to provide factual and balanced information regarding government activities, including project locations, costs, beneficiaries, and expected community impacts.
Komen noted that many transformative government projects remain unknown beyond their immediate areas due to insufficient and inadequately packaged public information. He cited investments in various sectors, including roads, health facilities, schools, water projects, agriculture, electricity connectivity, and social protection programs, as initiatives that require regular public communication.
Civil society activist Jane Jelimo emphasized that highlighting government programs should be a key component of public communication, as it helps citizens understand available services and opportunities. Jelimo proposed that communication officers document projects from inception to completion using various media to demonstrate their impact.
Moses Yator, a community empowerment advocate, stated that political leaders should focus on policy leadership while trained information officers take responsibility for government communication. Yator believes that separating political messaging from official government communication would help rebuild public confidence in government information.
Businessman James Kamau stressed the importance of creating opportunities for citizens to ask questions, raise concerns, and provide feedback on projects and services, advocating for continuous communication beyond initial project announcements.
Community elder Jack Koech argued that professional and nonpartisan communication would showcase government achievements while promoting transparency, accountability, and public participation. Koech suggested that government information be communicated through diverse platforms to ensure no community is left behind.
