Journalists and Public Communication Officers (PCOs) have been urged to leverage Access to Information (ATI) for accurate reporting on public interest stories.
Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Officer for Media Safety and Protection Halima Osman says adherence to procedures when requesting for information remains a critical aspect of professional reporting.
“It is important to follow the right process when looking for information. Having a press card alone does not guarantee access”, Ms Osman told an Access to Information and Good Governance sensitisation forum for journalists and county communications directors held in Kisumu County.
She further emphasised the importance of ATI in reporting public interest stories, including devolution reporting, and called for collaboration between journalists and public officers.
"Access to information is crucial for effective public communication. Journalists and county officers must work together to serve the public interest while upholding transparency and accountability," she said.
Katiba Institute Programmes Manager Patricia Joseph highlighted ATI as a constitutional right, enshrined in the constitution, shining the spotlight on the government's role as custodians of information.
"Access to Information is a right under the Kenyan Constitution. Every citizen has the right to access information held by the state and to request the deletion of incorrect information," she said.
Ms Joseph outlined the broader benefits of ATI, including its role in facilitating the exercise of other constitutional rights.
She stressed that limitations for accessing information must be justified, and reasons provided for denials.
She also called for consideration of factors such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), cost, language and means of communication on public interest matters to ensure ease of access.
Devolution expert Dr Henry Gichana underscored the inseparable link between devolution and ATI, as both stem from the Constitution, urging journalists to interrogate the objectives of devolution to shed light on their implementation.
"The overarching objective of devolution concerning ATI is to understand the reasoning behind devolution. Whenever you are interacting with aspects of devolution, ask yourself if they are aligned with the objectives," he emphasised.
"Counties have been given the powers to align themselves with and implement the objectives of devolution. It becomes easier for journalists to criticise the county government once they understand their devolved functions," he added.
Dr Gichana encouraged journalists to be aware of the different functions between the national and county governments, noting that this understanding will help them identify the right sources when seeking information.