Strategy and the Public Relations and Communication Management Policy 2023, highlighting the importance of aligning institutional communication practices with established government communication frameworks. The discussions reinforced the importance of communication that is coordinated across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), ensuring that public information is timely, consistent and responsive to the needs of citizens and stakeholders.
An important takeaway from the forum was the need for Government institutions to strengthen proactive communication.
Rather than waiting for emerging issues or public concerns to drive communication, institutions can anticipate information needs, provide timely explanations of government programmes and mandates, and consistently engage stakeholders with accurate and accessible information.
The forum’s interactive sessions on operationalising the National Communication Policy focused on aligning communication practices with Government communication protocols and Standard Operating Procedures, as well as developing action plans to strengthen communication coordination within MDAs.
For KNQA, this provides a valuable perspective as the Authority continues communicating on matters relating to qualifications, the Kenya National Qualifications Framework, qualification integrity, recognition and alignment of qualifications, and other aspects of its mandate.
The forum also highlighted the growing importance of public feedback and real-time communication.
Participants were taken through the mandate and functions of the National Communication Contact Centre, including its role in strengthening real-time Government communication, monitoring public feedback and improving coordination.
The discussions underscored that effective public communication should not be viewed as a one-way flow of information from Government to citizens. Listening to citizens, understanding their information needs and responding to emerging concerns are equally important components of effective communication.
For Corporate Communications functions across Government, this presents an opportunity to strengthen the use of public feedback and communication insights in planning content, identifying information gaps and improving stakeholder engagement.
The forum further examined the Access to Information Policy, with emphasis on the role of Information and Public Communication Officers in promoting proactive disclosure, transparency and citizen access to information.
The discussions reinforced the relationship between accessible information and effective public engagement. Government institutions have a responsibility to ensure that information about their mandates, services, programmes and activities is communicated in a manner that enables citizens and stakeholders to understand and engage with them.
This is particularly relevant to institutions such as KNQA whose work involves technical concepts and processes that directly affect learners, graduates, employers, education and training institutions and other stakeholders.
The engagement also reinforced the changing role of Corporate Communications within Government institutions. Communication is increasingly a strategic function that requires planning, coordination, monitoring, stakeholder understanding and the ability to respond effectively to emerging information needs.
The forum’s focus on coordinated communication, policy implementation, public feedback, access to information and government communication protocols provides useful lessons for strengthening KNQA’s communication approaches.
As the Authority continues to expand awareness of its mandate and initiatives, Corporate Communications remains an important link between KNQA and its diverse stakeholders, translating technical qualifications-related matters into clear, accurate and accessible public information.
The participation of KNQA Corporate Communications in the national forum therefore provided more than an opportunity for professional engagement. It strengthened exposure to emerging Government communication priorities while providing practical insights that can contribute to more coordinated, proactive, responsive and citizen-centred communication.
KNQA remains committed to strengthening strategic communication and stakeholder engagement as it advances its mandate of supporting a credible, coherent and quality-driven qualifications ecosystem in Kenya.
