BY CYRUS OMBATI
Former police spokesman Charles Owino is set to make a comeback in government as the Director General of the newly established National Communication Centre, reliable sources have informed the Star.
This is a new government entity formed to coordinate
government communications.
Owino and a few former journalists and government officials
have been building the centre to be based at Teleposta Towers with an aim of
rolling out its activities in days.
The centre will coordinate all communication activities on a
24 hour basis using all forms of social media channels and even their website
being created.
Owino’s appointment was made silently even as his term as
the chairman of the Council of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication ended.
The term came to an end last month and Silas Otieno Jonyo
was appointed to replace Owino.
Insiders said Owino has the backing of State House to build
his team.
“The issue is now in last stages and will be rolled out
soon,” said an official aware of the developments.
There are, however reports of resistance from some
government officials within the communication sector who feel the new centre is
coming to take over their operations.
Owino and his team have been consulting widely on how they
can make the centre more vibrant and effective in the wake of the Gen-Z
protests, which have been blamed on a lack of proper communication.
The president demanded the need to have one voice.
“The CS will remain the main spokesperson of their
departments. The new center will be there to complement what the government has
reported.”
“The center will explain in details on what is
happening,” said an insider.
