NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14- Communication officials from justice and security institutions joined journalists in a two-day programme aimed at strengthening election-period communication, crisis management and professional wellbeing.

📻 Breaking It Down

The capacity-building and wellness programme, organised by International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya, brought together communication officers and journalists working within the criminal justice sector.

Participants included representatives from the National Police Service (NPS), National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Internal Affairs Unit, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Witness Protection Agency (WPA), Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Crime Journalists Association of Kenya (CJAK) and Court Reporters Association of Kenya (CRAK).

The programme focused on how justice-sector institutions and the media can maintain accurate, timely and responsible communication during the electioneering period, when misinformation, disinformation and heightened public tensions can complicate access to credible information.

📌 What You Need to Know

Participants examined how institutions should respond to emerging issues, including determining which matters require a public response, who should speak on behalf of an institution and when such communication should be issued.

The sessions also emphasised the need to verify information before publication or dissemination and to coordinate messages across institutions to prevent confusion and conflicting accounts.

“When verification is incomplete, responsible communication does not mean silence, and it does not mean speculation,” said Asha, one of the trainers.

“It means communicating what is known, clearly identifying what is being verified and updating the public when reliable information is established.”

Participants were also cautioned against responding to every emerging claim, particularly where an institutional response could amplify misinformation or interfere with ongoing investigations and other official processes.

The programme provided a platform for journalists and government communication officers to discuss challenges affecting their working relationships and identify ways to improve access to information and cooperation.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya