The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has moved to remove political participation and gain more independence by seeking to reduce government presence on its board.
According to the proposed amendments to the Kenya Information and Communication Act, the new sections provide for the following: “Reduced government presence in the Board. The government will be represented in the new Board by the Principal Secretary responsible for communications who will then liaise with his/her other colleagues in the government.”
This is an effort to reduce government and political control in the board by the commission.
Previously, government representation on the CCK board comprised of the Permanent Secretary for Treasury and Internal Security.
The commission also wants a competitive recruitment process for the board members of the authority, in keeping with a corporate governance principle, unlike the current framework which provides for unilateral appointments by the minister.
“The Communications Commission of Kenya Board membership as reconstituted, shall be the body mandated under the Constitution of Kenya to meet with the Constitution imperatives,” reads the proposed draft.
The new Act seeks to guard CCK from interference from politicians and senior state officials.
Meanwhile, Ben Gituku, the chairman CCK, asked the nation to appreciate the role of industries for national development.
“As a nation, we should all appreciate the role of the industries. Regulators are now focusing in opening more industries for national development. We remain committed to the implementation and to consolidate the new Bill,” he said.
