Deputy Head of Public Service, Amos Gathecha, delivers remarks during the National Forum on Enhancing Government Communication through Digital Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, and Inclusive Practices held in Nairobi./KNA
The government has directed Ministries, State Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to collectively synchronise their communication systems to avert the release of fragmented messaging likely to expose the country to misinformation and digital manipulations.
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei urged state agencies to embrace innovation, inclusivity, and unity in their communication, warning that the digital era was key in the management of information.
In a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy Amos Gathecha on Wednesday, Koskei emphasized that communication was no longer a peripheral function but a core pillar of governance.
He told a National Forum on Enhancing Government Communication through Digital Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, and Inclusive Practices that information was a right, and not a privilege, and accessibility must be built into every layer of public communication.
“Inclusive communication is when every Kenyan from the pastoralist in Turkana to the fisherfolk in Lamu, from the youth in Kibera to the professionals in Nairobi feels heard and understood, then government becomes real, tangible, and alive,” he stated.
This, he added, includes sign language interpretation, simplified content, and user-friendly platforms that ensure no citizen is left behind, regardless of literacy level or geographic location.
On emerging technologies, the DHOPS noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents powerful opportunities to strengthen service delivery by analyzing citizen feedback in real time.
He, however, warned that AI could also be misused to spread misinformation and deepfakes if left unregulated.
The DHOPS further highlighted the growing influence of digital platforms, short videos, and social media in shaping public opinion.
Gathecha cited the recent Gen-Z protests, which were mobilized almost entirely online, as evidence that digital spaces have become the most powerful mobilisation tools of the time.
“In this environment, delays or inconsistencies in government messaging create space for alternative narratives—some factual, but many false or deliberately distorted,” Gathecha stated.
DHOPS stressed the need for strong defenses against misinformation, disinformation, and digital deception, challenging public communication officers to take the lead in building safeguards and ensuring the truth prevails in the public space.
“The story of Kenya must never be told by others on our behalf or distorted by the loudest voices online. It must be told by us in truth, in unity, with clarity and inclusivity. Kenya can only win when the government speaks as one,” the DHOPS stated.
Underscoring this call for unity, Principal Secretary (PS) for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Stephen Isaboke, challenged Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to take greater responsibility for the visibility of their work.
Gathecha urged them to consistently involve their communication officers in meetings and official engagements, stressing that government programmes can only be effectively amplified, clarified to citizens, and protected from distortion when leaders deliberately empower their communication teams.
“Communication officers are the bridge between policy and the people. When leaders carry them along, they make government work visible, strengthen trust, and ensure Kenyans not only see what is being done, but also understand why it matters. Visibility is accountability,” Isaboke stated.
The event brought together principal secretaries and development partners from across the public sector.
