{The government has banned advertising of its services, including tenders and job applications, in commercial media.}<\/p>\n
Accounting officers have been warned, in an official memo from the Head of Public Service, that if they place their ads in the media, then they would be forced to pay the cost from their pockets.<\/p>\n
All ministries, departments and agencies have been instructed to advertise through a government newspaper, My.Gov, which the government is circulating by inserting in the Star and People Daily.<\/p>\n
In a memo stamped \u2018secret\u2019 to all ministries, departments and agencies, President Kenyatta\u2019s Chief of Staff and Head of Civil Service Joseph Kinyua argued that the government is trying to save money.<\/p>\n
The memo is dated February 8, 2017, apparently the same day as a special Cabinet meeting that ordered the establishment of a government paper to \u201carticulate\u201d its agenda to the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn line with the government\u2019s desire to cut cost in the provision of services to the public and consequent to the Cabinet decision, there will be no need for MDA\u2019s (ministries, departments and agencies) to use resources allocated to them to advertise their services and convey requests for services from the market,\u201d he said in the memo that was copied to Attorney-General Githu Muigai.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this regard, each accounting officer shall ensure that any request for services by them shall be done through \u2018MY.GOV\u2019 publication. Any officer found violating this requirement will be liable to surcharge of the amount spent, besides other disciplinary action,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
The Cabinet, according to the memo, was not satisfied with the role being played by commercial newspapers and TV stations.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the special Cabinet meeting held on February 8, 2017, the Cabinet discussed and approved establishment of a wide circulation newspaper to be known as MY.GOV that will articulate the government agenda in a deeper and more accurate way for a better appreciation of government\u2019s effort to improve the livelihood of the citizens,\u201d the memo said.<\/p>\n
Mr Kinyua said that the new free circulating newspaper will, in addition to championing the government agenda and adverts, carry articles of government programmes and opportunities for the youth and vulnerable groups, which is allegedly not carried by commercial media.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe paper will provide a link between the government and the citizens in providing information on government programmes and activities on a timely basis. It will create nationwide window for dissemination of crucial information on government procurement, request for services, and other vital areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
My.Gov was first launched as an online portal in 2015 where citizens could access news and information about government. After two years, the government has now decided to expand it to a free daily newspaper.<\/p>\n
During the launch, President Kenyatta directed government institutions to shift from advertising using the traditional media to digital platforms.<\/p>\n
The President said cutting reliance on newspapers and television stations for advertisements and other communication would significantly bring down the government\u2019s spending on media.<\/p>\n
{{ESTABLISH A NEWSPAPER}}<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are spending hundreds of millions of shillings in advertising through the media. Let the ministries and other public bodies advertise through the digital platform we just launched and save that money for use in other things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The My.Gov publication is the third effort by successive governments to establish a newspaper in Kenya.<\/p>\n
In December 2011, the government ceased publication of Kenya Today, amid claims of financial misappropriation. The newspaper, which was run jointly by departments of Information and Communication, had been in existence for three years.<\/p>\n
Two years earlier, in November 2009, Kenya Times newspaper was wound up after employees successfully petitioned the court on grounds that it owed them money. The Kanu-era newspaper was first published on April 5, 1983.<\/p>\n
Previously thriving media sector in Kenya is shrinking, severely hit, partly by technological changes and a government advertising embargo.<\/p>\n
Government advertising is tightly controlled by the Government Advertising Agency and is generally determined by how government officials judge coverage.<\/p>\n
About 30 per cent of media advertising revenue comes from the government.<\/p>\n
Source:Daily Nation <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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