The University Top Management and the Departmental Heads of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology have been sensitized on effective Public Complaints Management and Access to Information Act 2016, by the Commission on Administrative Justice.
Speaking at the onset of the one-day workshop under the theme: Deepening Complaints Management and Access to Information within the University; The Director Risk and Compliance, in the Office of the Ombudsman, Mr. Ismael Maaruf applauded the brains behind the well-organized workshop saying that such kind of interactions brings together experts with various regional experiences and people are able to share and learn the best practices which can be domesticated for effective service delivery. Mr. Ismael challenged the university to put up a program which will train state workers and public servants on the concept of Ombudsmanship.
Prof. Stephen Agong’ said that Access to Information is a constitutional right enshrined the Kenyan constitution. However, professional dissemination of certain information is a virtue that should be possessed by civil servants to reduce the chances of wrong interpretation of the same information by the recipients. “As public servants, we need to have a clear channel where we can share information without causing unnecessary anxiety and animosity within our organization and our external publics.” Said Professor Agong’ while launching the workshop.
Prof. Francis Ang’awa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Planning Administration and Finance (PAF), agreed with the fact that information is power and every one should be granted access to any information within their interest, but he cautioned that this must be done with some agreeable limitations. “Some information is confidential in nature whereas others are public, so we must be able to differentiate these two sets and be able to act wisely.” Said Prof. Ang’awa.
The training was organized by the Corporate Communication Department in collaboration with the Office of the Ombudsman.