Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:28:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: odhiambo okecth
Subject: Re: ECK HIRES PR CONSULTANT
JM,
When I read this piece, I thought it must be a fools day joke, for that is what it is.
Same thing with Senator Obama making a one day visit to Kenya. It is also a fools day joke.
Oto
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John Maina wrote:
Its only in Kenya where you can use tax-payers money to cover your wrongs.
JM.
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http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=120257
Daily Nation
POLITICS
Polls body hires PR consultant
Story by SAMWEL KUMBA
Publication Date: 2008/04/01
The Electoral Commission of Kenya has hired a public relations consultant and is also seeking to get legal services from abroad, the Nation has learnt.
Whereas the PR consultant, who is pocketing Sh14,000 per day, has been in office since February this year, ECK needs the approval of the attorney general to import legal services.
According to a letter to one Gichinga Ndirangu, the PR consultant, and signed by commission secretary Joel Tsola, the contract came into effect on February 1, 2008, and runs for six months.
“You will be required to commence your duties with effect from February 1, 2008, for a period of six months for a fixed daily rate of Sh14,000 payable in arrears at the end of the month less pay as you earn (Paye) or as may be negotiated between the two parties,” the letter reads in part.
This means that at the end of the contract, ECK would have spent over Sh2.5 million on PR consultancy alone. This is despite the fact that the commission has a capable PR department.
Uphold ECK’s image
The contract was negotiated on January 17, this year and, among other duties and responsibilities, Mr Ndirangu is supposed to uphold the image of the ECK by countering and correcting negative publicity and misinformation and correcting public opinion on the role of the ECK in managing the electoral process.
He is also supposed to build public confidence in the institutional capacity of the ECK, inform Kenyans on measures undertaken by ECK to ensure on the integrity and credibility of the electoral process as well as ensure consistent media messaging to win back public confidence.
Reached for comment, the ECK could not discuss the issue, only confirming that they have engaged the services of a PR consultant.
A source at the commission told the Nation that there were plans to engage the services of legal experts from outside the country especially since the commission wanted to have an independent audit of what happened during last year’s General Election.
And yesterday, the civil society appealed to AG Amos Wako to dismiss such a move.
“Does this mean that we do not have competent lawyers who can serve ECK? This is just misuse of taxpayers’ money,” said the executive director of Haki Focus, Mr Haron Ndubi.
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http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=23&newsid=120359
Daily Nation
LETTERS
Electoral Commission’s decision to hire media consultant in order
Publication Date: 4/3/2008
GICHINGA NDIRANGU,
Nairobi.
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Subject: Re: ECK HIRES PR CONSULTANT