October 16, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke Verbatim NEWSFOCUS | 7 with Government on Big Four Indeed, the importance of culture and creative industries in generating jobs, wealth and social engagements is increasingly being recognized by governments especially in Africa. Clearly, there is a strong link between investing in creative industries and sustainable development. $2.25 EMS2GO.We also recently set up the Communications & Multimedia Appeals Tribunal (CAMAT) which will allow citizens to send in complaints and appeals in the sector as Media Council of Kenya listens to complaints against the media through the Media Complaints Commission. We are also rolling out Digital Villages to 800 villages across the country hooking them up to satellite TV in community centres and homes to give access to TV and radio stations in unreached parts of the country. Film is squarely back in your Ministry and specifically in your docket. What plans do you have with the sector for the future? When I was PS Tourism, film was an area we really wanted to push because countries get profiled through filming locations – scenery, fauna, flora, people and culture. Creative industries are a source of largely untapped potential of economic growth across Africa. Many governments, Kenya included, are now integrating non-traditional strategies in their national development plans to conquer the high rates of unemployment in the continent. These strategies include tapping into the creative and cultural industries such as fashion, film, television and music among others, which have largely been overlooked as potential and legitimate avenues that can create employment for our youth. Globally, the creative industry is the largest contributor to the economy, with a 2013 UNESCO report showing that it has provided employment to approximately 30 million people which translates to 2.25 trillion US dollars. Indeed, the importance of culture and creative industries in generating jobs, wealth and social engagements is increasingly being recognized by governments especially in Africa. Clearly, there is a strong link between investing in creative industries and sustainable development. At my Ministry, we recognize that the film industry generates an estimated Kshs. 200 billion annually. However, despite this impressive output, the full potential of the sector remains unexploited. The Kenya Film Classification Board has come up with an initiative called Sinema Mashinani - taking film to the grassroots. The project seeks to promote local film productions in vernacular languages to celebrate Kenya’s cultural and linguistic diversity and will be rolled out countrywide. The Kenya Film Commission aims to promote Kenya as a filming destination to the international film producers and capacity build the local film-makers so that local content is constantly being generated and improved. What’s your ministry’s plan for the telecommunications sector? Through the Sector regulator, the Government will implement strategies aimed at but not limited to: • Management of Radio Frequency Spectrum • Foster growth, competition and investment in Telecommunication Sector • Ensure operators compliance with the Act, regulations and licensing conditions • Facilitate universal access and use of ICTs in broadcasting and telecom • Protect the rights of users of these services • Ensure development and formulation of adequate standards for the sector among others Should Kenyans expect more innovations in courier services? E-commerce is the next frontier for posts and Posta isn’t being left behind. The State Department is currently working on the development of National Addressing System to promote ecommerce. In addition, the Government through the State Department is also in discussion with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to establish Kenya as an e-commerce hub leveraging on Kenya’s geographical location and Posta’s widespread infrastructure. This will greatly change enhance the courier services industry. What became of the once much talked about national address initiative? We just put out a tender for this initiative, through the CA, that will help finalise plans to enable us put in place an addressing system which is globally benchmarked so that we can deliver on services to the people and allow emerging economic opportunities like ecommerce take root. We will fast track the implementation of the National Addressing System. Tell us about your State Department’s role in regulating the broadcasting and telecommunications sector. I represent the Ministry in the Board of Directors of the Communications Authority of Kenya which is the independent sector regulator. In addition, the State Department is mandated to formulate and review policies and regulations governing the broadcasting and telecommunications sector so that it is in line with emerging trends in the sector to ensure Kenya keeps its Value, in trillions of dollars, of the global creative industry. It is the largest contributor to the global economy, with a 2013 UNESCO report showing that it has provided employment to approximately 30 million people leading status in the field. How is your State Department supporting the Big Four agenda? The State department will contribute to the attainment of the Big Four Agenda by a) Distribution and e-commerce b) Marketing and Communications c) Job creation and skills development Your parting shot? There’s a Somali saying that goes ‘when given a position, be there and be visible or do not appear at all’ and with my desire to make a difference in people’s lives, I hope I am able to fulfill my desire to make a difference that led me to apply for this PS job in the first place. I would like my legacy to see harmonised government communications structures, through a restructured Kenya News Agency, Government Advertising Agency and Public Communications. When I was chairperson of the Public Relations Society of Kenya, I lobbied the ministry of information to give the Public Communications officers a better positioning in the management structure to professionalize the role of communications within government. This is especially important today, as each MDA has to highlight and create awareness amongst Kenyans of what the government is doing for them more so the Big 4 Agenda. Now that the department is under me, it behoves me to improve things even more. I would also like to see a revamped Kenya Broadcasting Corporation that truly lives up to being the national public broadcaster and a revitalised Postal Corporation of Kenya that leverages on ecommerce and fintech to serve the citizens and make profit in doing so. Lastly, I would like to see that the media and the Government work closely and harmoniously to ensure that Kenyans are informed about the delivery of the Big Four Agenda.
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