The Ministry of Information, Communications, and Digital Economy has introduced a stringent new bill targeting the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC). This public media training institution, which is undergoing a significant transition, will impose severe penalties on students caught falsifying information during their admission process.
The proposed bill, now open for public participation, stipulates that any individual providing false information for registration or admission at KIMC will face a fine of up to Ksh 100,000. Additionally, offenders may be subjected to a jail term not exceeding one year, or both penalties could be applied concurrently.
“A person who knowingly provides false information to the School in making an application for registration or admission commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment of a term not exceeding one year or fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or both,” states a section of the bill.
This legislative measure is part of a broader strategy to transition KIMC into the newly constituted Kenya School of Communication. According to the Ministry, this transformation aims to bolster the institution’s capacity to deliver high-quality education and training in media and communications, thereby professionalizing the communication and creative arts sector in Kenya.
“The enactment of the Bill will significantly enhance the capability of the Kenya School of Communication to provide high-quality education and training in media and communications. This will significantly professionalize the communication and creative arts sector and effectively contribute to the knowledge economy,” the Ministry elaborated in its statement.
Once the bill is enacted, the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication will be restructured as a body corporate, effectively replacing the Kenya School of Communications as a state corporation. This new entity will have a comprehensive mandate that includes providing education and training, certifying media practitioners, conducting research, and forming partnerships with other educational institutions.
Governance of the newly established Kenya School of Communication will fall under a council, with the chairperson and members appointed by the President. This move is expected to place the institution on a solid legal and operational foundation, ensuring its contributions to the communication sector are both significant and sustainable.
As the bill awaits parliamentary approval, stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to participate in the discourse to shape the future of media and communication education in Kenya.
