Change of guard at KNA as former boss retires

Nairobi,

Friday, September 8, 2023

KNA by Ian Chepkuto

The Directorate of Information turned another leaf in history after the outgoing Director of Information, Josephine Kinuthia retired from services after several years of dedicated service at the Kenya News Agency (KNA).

She hangs her gloves after serving in various capacities in government circles including a stint as a Public Communications Officer in some of the ministries.

Madam Kinuthia rose to the helm of the Department of Information in October 2021 retires after taking the state news agency through a major technological transition at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information Secretary Judy Munyinyi acknowledged her enormous contribution to the Civil Service in a letter and wished her well in her retirement.

Madam Kinuthia, who held her last meeting with key sectional heads yesterday at the Directorate of Information Offices boardroom at Uchumi House Nairobi, called for cooperation among staff as she passed the baton to the incoming Director Joseph Kipruto Kipkoech during a brief handing-over ceremony.

She, however, challenged staff to remain steadfast and professional while executing their duties to ensure that they achieved the goals and broadly the collective targets of the directorate.

She called on information officers to be the mouthpiece of government at the grassroots level and on the national stage by gathering, processing, packaging, and disseminating vital information services to enable the government to meet the needs of the citizens, including the bottom-up transformational agenda.

Madam Kinuthia, commended staff for their tremendous commitments and exemplary service during her tenure, calling for more retooling of the officers in tandem with the changing technology and policy environment so as to enhance their performance, sharpen their skills in the ever-changing globalization, and to remain relevant in the growing and the vibrant media industry and landscape.

She added that it was prudent for the staff to be periodically engaged in refresher courses and workshops to understand more about government policies, programs, and projects and finally polish their abilities for effective delivery of government services.

Ms. Kinuthia emphasized the importance of being in conformity with the new media industry and the digital platforms, which have almost eclipsed the traditional print media and electronic media in conveying news and information services in real-time.

The new Director was voted as the best writer by the Kenya Union of Journalists in 2004 at the Kenya News Agency while serving in Baringo District and voted the best employee of the Ministry of Information and Communications in 2007 while serving in the then-Embu District.

Mr. Kipkoech, who has taken over as Director of Information at the Directorate of Information, joined the Public Service in 1991 as an Information Officer. He served in the then-Baringo, Narok, and Embu districts in several capacities and rose through the ranks.

He also served as Head of Kenya News Agency in Nairobi, Research and Partnerships Section in the Directorate of Information and Public Communications Officer in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum; and The National Treasury and Economic Planning.

Mr. Kipkoech holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Nairobi, where he also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Government and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations.

He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication and a Postgraduate Certificate in Mass Communication from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Nairobi.

Courtesy; KNA