The Directorate of Information is set to undergo a significant transformation following the appointment of the new director, Mr. Joseph Kipkoech.
The new Director, while assuming office on Wednesday, pledged to elevate the directorate by enhancing news, information, and research performances to achieve its mandate of providing news and crucial information to enable the public to make informed decisions.
“I am up to the task, as evidenced in my previous assignments. I’ve done my best both in the field stations as a reporter and in Ministries as a communications officer,” Mr. Kipkoech remarked while assuming office.
He said his goal has always been to come out the best and with excellent results in order to leave a rich legacy behind, which he said he did while serving in previous stations.
Mr. Kipkoech said his leadership style is guided by creativity, innovation, commitment, and instilling discipline, as well as enhancing cooperation, a sense of ownership, and hard work among the staff who are key in the delivery of the department’s and the government’s mandates and objectives.
His message to the directorate staff was to feel free since he practices two-way communication and an open-door policy.
Director Kipkoech said he shall collaborate with everybody seeking support from the directorate in shaping history for the better and urged the staff to support him for success. “We have come a long way as the Directorate, but I assure you we shall shape the history for the better,” he said.
He commended the appointing authority for giving him the opportunity to serve as director of information, promising to do his best in executing the duties, including news and information services, publications, research, partnerships, and knowledge management.
He promised to steer Kenya News Agency (KNA) to the highest level by benchmarking with leading local and international media organisations.
“We shall embrace modern technology in all aspects, benchmarking other news organisations both local and foreign, since we can borrow a lot of success stories from other media organisations,” observed the director.
He also pledged to mentor junior officers in their media field career development paths.
The director said he was gender sensitive and would treat all employees equally.
He said his most urgent business will be to make sure KNA works and delivers to its utmost ability, focusing on field stations since news comes from Counties and Sub-counties.
Kipkoech said the staff shortage challenge, especially in the technical cadres, will be addressed in due course, hinting that promotions and staffing levels are being addressed to ensure seamless delivery of news, features, special reports, and other information services.
“Soon there will be promotional interviews in a collective effort with the ministry and the public service to motivate staff, whereas operations will be streamlined.
He commended the retired Director, Josephine Kinuthia for taking the directorate through various technological changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying she did her best in terms of running the department.
“I will pick from where she left, knowing that the modernization of KNA must continue since the world is becoming a global village, where ICT and technology are the way to go,” he emphasized.
By KNA Team
