Thread by @KenyasOmbudsman

Commission Celebrates Global Day for Universal Access to Information

The Commission, in partnership with the @MediaCouncilK on Monday 28th September, 2020, convened a public forum to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information.

The UN-backed Day is marked each year across the world to advance the need for full implementation of obligations placed on countries to implement universal access to information.

During the event held in Nairobi and attended by a few invited guests and a larger group participating virtually, the importance of access to information in Kenya and challenges encountered for citizens’ full enjoyment of the right were discussed.

The theme for this year’s Day was “Access to Information - Saving Lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope” and sought to focus attention on the importance of access to information in times of crisis like the prevailing corona virus pandemic.

The keynote address for the Day was delivered by @MaureenMbaka1 CAS ICT, Broadcasting and Telecommunications at the @MoICTKenya. She expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the Commission and the Council to advance full realisation of the Act.

Other speakers during the event were the Commission Chairperson @FlorenceKajuju and @MediaCouncilK CEO @DavidOmwoyo

In September 2016, Kenya enacted the Access to Information Act pursuant to Article 35 of the Constitution to provide a framework for full realisation of the right of access to information. The Commission is mandated to oversee and oversight the implementation of the Act.

It was on this basis that a panel was put together to lead the discussions on the status of the Act’s implementation and citizens’ enjoyment of the right to access information held by government and private agencies.

The panel discussion, moderated by Commission’s Vice Chairperson @WashingtonSati acknowledged the important milestones realised but noted the huge bottlenecks needed to be addressed for full realisation of the right to access information.

The panelists who took part were: Commissioner Lucy Ndung’u who is also the designated Access to Information Commissioner; Ms. Sandra Waswa of @article19eafric @vn6 of @AfricaCheck @DinahOndari of @MediaCouncilK and @Marcelblessed of @AMWIK

During the event, the Commission and the Council also signed a MOU and launched ‘Access to Information in Kenya: A Journalists' Handbook’, a guide tailored for journalists to better utilise the provisions of the Access to Information Act to advance their public watchdog role.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Commission Secretary/CEO @saningol for @KenyasOmbudsman and @DavidOmwoyo for the @MediaCouncilK

@threadreaderapp compile.