The Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy is set to rollout Digital Superhighway Infrastructure which is crucial in the realization of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
To further achieve universal broadband access, this move will ensure the construction of about 100,000 kilometers of national fiber optic connectivity and the installation of 40 digital hubs in the country.
In her speech read during the official opening ceremony of the 2024 Public Relations Society of Kenya Annual Summit at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay, Information Cabinet Secretary Dr. Margaret Ndung’u said 40 digital hubs and health facilities will be connected with the internet by the end of the program.
This is the first ever PRSK summit to be held in Homa Bay which has seen the attendance of more than 500 delegates from all over the country and beyond.
The CS whose speech was read by the Media Council of Kenya Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo, informed that the ministry is further committed to creating an enabling environment for public relations and communication professionals to thrive.
To address gaps in the sector, Omwoyo read, we have established a working group that informed the development of PR and Communications Management Bill that is in the parliament which alongside other legal frameworks, aims at building high ethical standards, enhance credibility and ensure only qualified experts serve in the field.
In the conference, delegates reiterated the importance of technology and data driven strategies as well as the need for cross-sector collaborations.
She further recognized the need to equip Public Communication Officers and Information Officers with tools to build their capacity.
“Through collaborations with institutions like PRSK, we aim to provide more dynamic, relevant and affordable training programs to enhance the capacity of these professionals,” read Omwoyo.
Ndung’u observed that collaborative efforts by PR professionals can revolutionize their engagement with diverse audience, leveraging tools like Artificial Intelligence and data analytics, adding that these technologies are key to building a vibrant digital ecosystem and advancing Kenya’s position as a global leader in communication and innovation.
The CS further noted that this is a period of unprecedented global crises citing wars and climate-induced calamities like floods and drought that demand effective communication strategies.
“National upheavals such as the recent Genz protests highlighted the need for exceptional government communication,” read Omwoyo.
Separately, the director Public Communication Monica Omoro who graced the session reiterated that many Kenyans have not understood the new health policy and as a department, they are working towards breaking down and simplifying information so that the public can better understand it.
“Most Kenyans have not comprehended everything about the Social Health Authority and the fact that it has even more benefits than the former NHIF,” she said.
She asked the public to look at SHA in a positive light, urging them to embrace the health policy to reap the massive benefits it comes with.
The director further cautioned the residents residing in flood-prone areas in Homa Bay to move to upper areas to avoid being caught unaware during floods episodes in the ongoing rainfall in the region, saying that it is only temporary and they can always come back home.
“Do not resist moving to safer areas to avoid being hit by the floods as the move is for a short period of time,” said Omoro.
By Sitna Omar
