The Presidential Taskforce mandated to overhaul the Government Press has released the first draft detailing strategies it intends to implement to modernise the institution.
President William Ruto in June this year appointed Billionaire Narendra Raval to lead the steering committee tasked with transforming the agency to align it with trends in the publishing industry, with a special focus on emerging digital trends.
In its summary of the strategy blueprint, the task force explained that the new changes are anchored on five pillars.
"Implementation of this framework will be through a corporatised Government Press of Kenya, with a forward-looking Board and a lean, flat management structure," read the framework's executive summary.
"It will also involve the rollout of a well-structured joint venture with a reputable Global Security Printing entity for high-end security printing. It is estimated that the implementation of this process will cost an estimated Ksh18 billion."
In the new changes, the task force has proposed that the Government Press, which publishes the Gazette Notice,be corporatised into a strategic commercial state corporation within 3 months.
The task force also aims at consistently satisfying the needs of customers by delivering high-quality services, as well as diversifying its array of products and services.
The sectors where the task force is looking to make most changes include gazette services, digital, security, and commercial printing services.
The team is also seeking to secure a strong organisational foundation that will see the establishment of a fit-for-purpose asset base. As such, the task force is looking to audit all outstanding payments and optimise the agency's assets commercial potential. The agency has outstanding payments amounting Ksh1.15 billion.
Finally, the task force has recommended competitive remuneration for staffers including the provision of incentives to retain employees and operationalising a conducive work environment.
"These pillars will be delivered in a sustainable manner through a carefully choreographed phased approach that will seek to strengthen the foundations of the Government Press of Kenya, build its bottom line from existing resources, lay the basis for sustained long-term growth, all of these at all times ensuring maximum returns to the public," the document reads.
"It will entail the establishment of a robust forward-looking Board of Directors to carry the modernisation and transformation vision for the Government Press of Kenya."
The task force has begun collecting comments from the public over the proposed changes with scheduled physical engagement meetings and written submissions slated to be accepted between October 13 and November 10.
In the steering committee, Raval is deputised by Nzomo Mbithuka while other members include Abdi Hassan Ali, Mukami Maina, Victor Lomaria, Ruth Murage, Christopher Kirigua, and Patel Kiritkumar.
During their appointment, Ruto argued that since its establishment in 1895, there have been various unsuccessful attempts by previous administrations to modernise and transform the Government Press.
