Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has pledged that his administration will maintain openness to the media to enhance press freedom and dissemination of information to the public.
Addressing the press during the official launch of a media hub and press club at a hotel in Busia town on Thursday, Dr Otuoma affirmed that the media plays a critical role in the country’s governance.
“Without press freedom, without quality information sharing, it is not easy for the society to understand itself,” he said, adding that through the work of journalists, the community is able to communicate with the outside world.
He decreed the establishment of a media liaison unit at the Department of Public Service, Governance and Communication so that issues concerning the press can also be presented at the executive.
The governor lamented that the County was food deficient but regretted there was no proper communication from the leadership through the media so that residents could understand the county government policies and interventions.
“I have just realised that we have a partner (media) whom we have not been utilising well,” he said.
Dr Otuoma hailed the establishment of the media hub adding that it will help the County leadership and the media operate in a mutually beneficial way.
“We have embraced technology, but it has a lot of challenges,” he said, adding that people should use the media for knowledge and information sharing.
Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo said that the media hub will not only provide a safe working place for the journalists but will usher in a reasonable and fair working environment for the journalists.
Omwoyo noted that there was a shortage of bureau offices to accommodate journalists across the country leaving many scribes to work from the corridors or hotel lobbies that might not be safe.
“This media hub is a collaborative workplace that will provide a safe environment for all the journalists,” Omwoyo said.
He further said that the infrastructure will provide a forum for collaborative fact-checking among the journalists.
“So this hub will allow you to collaborate, share story ideas, and check facts,” he said.
Omwoyo promised that the MCK will give the hub and the press club life by organizing training and mentorship activities so that the hub becomes relevant in nurturing professional journalism.
The chairman of Busia Press Club, Joseph Abuje, expressed gratitude to the Media Council of Kenya for launching the media hub adding that the place will be helpful for the journalists upon retirement.
Abuje called upon the media practitioners to work together as a unit when undertaking their duties, noting that unity among them will fast-track their growth and the development of the County in general.
“I extend my gratitude to the Media Council of Kenya for their support in bringing the Busia Press Club to fruition. Let us seize this opportunity to create a vibrant, inclusive, and impact-full community that celebrates the spirit of journalism, “he said.
The forum brought together all the journalists based in Busia and the Communication team at the County government.
By Salome Alwanda and Victoria Magar
