Public participation on modernization of government’s press held in Meru

Meru,

Monday, November 6, 2023,

KNA, by Dickson Mwiti

The Presidential Taskforce on the modernization and transformation of the government press into an efficient and highly performing commercially viable entity was on Monday held in Meru County where residents got an opportunity to air their views.

Speaking during the event, the Mr Joseph Emojong who led the Meru team said there was need to relook at how the department could be changed so that among other reasons, it can bring economic benefits to the country.

He said the government press is the designated printing press for production, standardization, dissemination, cataloguing, authenticating and preserving of various public documents for the National and County governments, Parliament, Judiciary, Parastatals and Semi-Autonomous Agencies (SAGAs) and therefore its upgrading and modernization was long overdue.

“The intended reforms of the government press are geared towards upscaling service delivery of government services in line with the Kenya Kwanza Administration’s Transformative plan for the Nation espoused as Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” said Mr Emojong.

He said some of the views by the residents included bringing the government press services close to the people by way of devolving them in order to shorten endless journeys to Nairobi.

“The people have also suggested that modern machines be bought in order to produce documents that cannot be forged and do this at a higher rate than the way we are experiencing today,” said Mr Emojong.

The machines, he added, would of course have special features which will not be forged easily and this will enhance printing of vital documents like ballot papers, examinations, passports and even money being done in the country.

“As at now we use a lot of money to print passports, examinations, ballot papers among others outside the country, which would be instead be done here so that we can save the money paid out for other development agenda,” said Mr Emojong.

Imenti North Deputy County Commissioner Odilliah Ndeti suggested that satellite offices of the government press be set in other areas outside Nairobi, including Meru which has a high population who can consume its services.

“Every institution has to change with time and if this doesn’t happen then it becomes obsolete.

The government press was left behind by such changes and therefore we need to fast track its modernization,” said Ms Ndeti.

She challenged Kenyans to practice integrity in all aspects adding this was one of the main reasons why some documents like the ballot papers and examinations are never printed in the country.

Courtesy; KNA