Kenyan journalists, who are members of the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG), on Tuesday, March 3, laid bare their grievances before Public Service Commission Chairman Stephen Kirogo.
Speaking during a meeting between the two parties held at Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, the journalists demanded that the PSC should avail data needed by the public in a timely manner.
They further demanded that the commission should get rid of middlemen, who they accused of being the hindrance between the state and media breaking down the data to Kenyans.
Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) president Churchill Otieno speaking at a luncheon in Nairobi on May 21, 2019.
Daily Nation
“Why is the public denied the data and information which is supposed to be made available to them?
“It’s absolutely chaotic that the public does not get the information they need. It’s also said that new fees are introduced and imposed on the public without public participation,” stated Rose Lukalo, a member of KEG.
KEG President Churchill Otieno, added that the media had suffered in its watchdog mandate accusing the PSC withholding information, going on to appeal for a cordial relationship between the two.
“We understand the role that the PSC plays and how it affects society. As editors, we are ready to partner with the commission,” he further stated.
To bridge the gap, Kirogo disclosed that the commission was setting up a real-time feedback center to answer the public’s queries as they arise.
“We believe the public is the best auditor for the PSC and this will minimise the issue of brokers.
“We are keen to involve the youth and are currently recruiting 3,200 youths to PSC at entry-level,” he remarked.
He further added that more than 6,000 youths countrywide had been trained by the commission through an internship programme launched in 2019.
PSC Chairman Steven Kirogo (Right) speaks during Professor Prajapati Trivedi‘s (second right) visit to the Public Service Commission (PSC) on June 19, 2019.
Public Service Commission.
