Kenya Institute of Mass Communication to become independent institution

The government will upgrade the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) to a fully-fledged independent institution.

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Prof. Edward Kisiangani says the ministry will, through an act of Parliament, give the journalism school full autonomy, away from its current state of being a department under the ministry.

“You know one of the biggest weaknesses we have around here is the fact that you do not have an act of Parliament within which you can operate and we in the ministry think if we give you an act of Parliament it will expand your opportunities and you will access more resource,” said PS Kisiangani.

“So this is what we are doing in the ministry and we think that very soon, we will get an act of Parliament within which you will operate.”

While speaking at the graduation ceremony, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo encouraged the graduates to be vigilant and uphold the journalism code of practice.

“In the realm of mass communication ladies and gentlemen, we are not mere observers, we are architects of information shapers of creatives and guardians of the truth,” said CS Owalo.

“You as graduands therefore now bear the great responsibility of wielding the power of communication with integrity and a sense of purpose.”

About 459 students in the six departments were conferred their diplomas and certificates.