CS Owalo Begins Plan To Reform KBC

Information, Communication & Technology, and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo has commenced his vow to institute reforms to the state-owned media house, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

Owalo on Tuesday, November 1 paid a visit to KBC's offices along Harry Thuku Road in Nairobi for a meeting with the board and senior management.

He told the media house that the aim of the visit was to understand where KBC is at as the state broadcaster and to find ways and means to turn it around so that it can get back to being the number 1 media house in Kenya.

Information, Communication Technology, and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo arriving at KBC on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. /KBC DIGITAL

“I am here to hear your views and suggestions on interventions required to address the challenges facing KBC so that we can agree on solutions going forward,” he said.

The CS expressed that KBC was a precious treasure, motivating his need to revamp the media house by offering it his support.

Owalo vowed to support the board and the management saying some of the challenges may require support from the Ministry in terms of the policy.

“We attach a lot of integral value to KBC. In the recent past, I have made proclamations on the need to revitalize KBC. This is a good starting point,” he said.

"We are ready to liaise with all the integral stakeholders so that we find ways and means of revitalising the operations of KBC. This is basically the first state agency that I am visiting since I took office."

Board Chairman Eng. Benjamin Maingi lauded the CS for his commitment to transforming KBC saying that as a Board they are honoured.

Appearing before the National Assembly's Committee on Appointments on Friday, October 21, Owalo questioned the sustainability of the media house which has since been overpowered by private media houses in Kenya, despite its long-standing popularity in the country.

"Something needs to be done about KBC. It is ironic that KBC with its strong brand and wide network of infrastructure is today punching below its weight in the marketplace.

"With respect to KBC, it will be one of my key areas of intervention once I come into the office. I intend to revitalise the operations of KBC first by rebranding it," he said.

On the subject of rebranding, Owalo criticised the station's rebranding from the Voice of Kenya (VoK). It was named the latter in 1964 when Kenya became a republic before being changed to KBC in 1989 and became the mouthpiece of the government during the tenure of Kenya's second president, the late Daniel Arap Moi.

He suggested that by reverting the name KBC to VoK, the media house would go back to the days whereby it was a market leader in Kenya's media industry.

President William Ruto previously hinted at overhauling the media house during his term, stating that with it running as a commercial entity, the station would regain its glory as the great media house it was once known for across the country for its excellence in journalism.

Award-winning KBC sports anchor, Caren Kibbett. /FACEBOOK