In a gazette notice, Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru stated that the appointment that takes effect immediately will be for a period of three years/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 29 – Veteran journalist Naim Bilal has been appointed the Managing Director of the State-owned Kenya Broadcasting cooperation (KBC).
In a gazette notice, Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru stated that the appointment that takes effect immediately will be for a period of three years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 (1) of the Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Technology appoints Naim Bilal to be the Managing Director of the Kenya Broadcasting cooperation for a period of three years with effect from 20th March 2019,” the notice stated.
He will be replacing Waithaka Waihenya whose contract as KBC Managing Director ended in 2017.
Bilal earned his appointment following a competitive recruitment process initiated by the Board of the Corporation in 2018 and conducted with the assistance of PriceWaterHouseCoopers.
“He emerged the best candidate in a field of over 35 candidates who applied for the position, leading to interviews of shortlisted applicants on January 24, 2019,” a statement from the Ministry of Information said.
The new MD has a wealth of over 29 years’ experience in media and communication management, gained in the private and public sectors in Kenya. Until his appointment, Bilal was the Acting Director of Information in the Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology. Previously, he served as the Director of
Public Affairs and Communication in the Judiciary.
In the private sector, Bilal worked for the Nation Media Group for 19 years, where he rose to the position of Managing Editor / News Manager in both the Print and Broadcasting Divisions of the Company. Before joining the Government in 2009, he served as the Director of the House Live Broadcasting Project in the National Assembly, under the Parliamentary Strengthening Project which was co-implemented by the State University of New York (SUNY Kenya).
Bilal holds a PhD in Communications Studies from Moi University and a Masters degree in Communications Policy from City University, United Kingdom.
“As the incoming Managing Director, Bilal will be expected, together with the management team and the board, to develop a turn around strategy to wake up the sleeping giant that The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is.”
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