Malindi residents call for strengthening of government press – Kenya News Agency
Malindi residents Monday referred to as on the federal government to modernize and rework the Authorities Press to allow it to print important paperwork corresponding to passports, nationwide examinations, election supplies, and foreign money notes domestically.
Led by former Malindi Mayor Patterson Kafulo, the residents lamented that the nation was spending enormous quantities of much-needed income to acquire printing companies outdoors the nation when the companies might be carried out within the nation at decrease prices.
Talking on the Nidhamia Corridor in Malindi city throughout a public participation session on the Draft Authorities Press Coverage 2023, Mr. Kafulo mentioned that different international locations, together with some in Africa, have been printing their paperwork and questioned why Kenya was nonetheless outsourcing the companies.
The session was organized by the Presidential Taskforce on the Modernization and Transformation of the Authorities Press into an Environment friendly and Extremely Performing Viable Entity, whose mandate is to develop a coverage and strategic framework for constructing a Kenya Authorities Press for the Future.
Mr. Kafulo mentioned African nations corresponding to Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt have been printing all authorities paperwork inside their international locations with out having to acquire the companies from different international locations whereas Kenya is just not in a position to print its personal.
“Just lately, we had a passport disaster on this nation. If these passports have been being printed by the Authorities Printer, that drawback wouldn’t have been skilled,” he claimed.
Kafulo mentioned he totally helps the thought of modernizing and reworking the Authorities Press to allow it to have fashionable gear and enough personnel to allow it to hold out its mandate effectively.
He mentioned the amount of cash we spend to acquire printing companies for poll papers, nationwide examination supplies, and foreign money notes might be used within the nation on improvement tasks.
He mentioned his son, a maritime engineer, had missed three employment alternatives as a consequence of lack of a passport, which he mentioned the younger man had waited for six months.
The taskforce’s group chief, Mr. Collins Kiprono mentioned the group had been thrilled by the extent of consciousness amongst residents, who he mentioned had given important recommendations such because the decentralization of distribution of presidency paperwork after being printed.
He mentioned as soon as a contemporary authorities press is put in place, it might be capable of print all paperwork in time, and that distribution could be strengthened to make sure the paperwork attain the supposed individuals in time.
Different members of the duty pressure through the discussion board that was additionally attended by Malindi Deputy County Commissioner David Lusava have been Japheth Kimutai, Elizabeth Wangui, Eng. Denis Khandiri, Victor Lomaria, Ruth Murage, Andrew Simiyu, and Jacob Khavi.
By Emmanuel Masha
