Veteran Public Communications guru Kibisu Kabatesi is set to take up a top position in the Kenya Kwanza government’s communications unit, according to highly placed sources.

Kabatesi, will now be tasked to supervise government strategic communication of policy, its articulation and dissemination in his new patch at the Presidency.

The new office, according to sources, comes with wide-ranging powers among them over-seeing and guiding strategic communication across government ministries, State Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under the new ‘whole-government’ approach to achieve seamless communication within the various levels of administration. 

Strategic communication

Kabatesi, given his experience in academic policy research, editorial, publishing and strategic communication is expected to integrate the same in the government open approach that champions data-driven policymaking. 

He will also take charge of strategic communication capacity building for MDAs through the development of training, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of strategic communication practice within government. 

Kabatesi has previously worked in media convergence having served as a TV producer, public relations officer, writer, editor, media trainer and publicist. He is a renowned public intellectual and media practitioner with more than 40 years’ experience.   A long-serving aide of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi alternatively serving as his director for communications, private secretary and lately as spokesman.