Launch of the Marekebisho Media Awards for Excellence

In keeping with international best practice, the Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sector (GJLOS) Reform Programme launched the Marekebisho Media Awards for Excellence. This marks an important step in fostering partnership with the media in building a more informed and participative citizenry in the delivery and utilization of services provided by participating institutions in the Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sector (GJLOS) Reform Programme.  The Awards aim to recognize and promote excellence in issue-focused journalism that helps build self-confidence in the public in utilizing services offered by GJLOS Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) such as Civil Registration, Immigration, the Provincial Administration and the Judiciary   amongst others.   The awards are sponsored by the GJLOS Reform Programme and are being implemented in collaboration with stakeholders in the media, journalism training institutions, international development partners and other GJLOS partner institutions. Based on the success of this inaugural Award Scheme, the Marekebisho Media Awards   Oversight Committee   intends to make this an annual event.

Spearheaded by the Government of Kenya and launched in November 2003, the GJLOS Reform Programme seeks to significantly improve the capacity of institutions in the sector to effectively deliver better services to the public. The Programme aims to specifically restore public confidence in law and order institutions; address prison overcrowding and offender rehabilitation; fight endemic corruption; reorient public service behaviour in support of the reforms; and systematically tackle insecurity and crime.

The largest Reform Programme ever to be implemented by the Kenya Government, the GJLOS Reform Programme has over 30 government institutions implementing the reforms. The sector institutions are located, or linked to the Office of the President, Office of the Vice-President, State Law Office, Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons, the  Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs-which is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the Programme.  Semi–autonomous government agencies like the Kenya anti-Corruption Commission, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Kenya Law Reform Commission are also implementing GJLOS reforms, that seek to make government more responsive to society’s needs and rights.The multi-sectoral programme has the participation of various international development partners, civil society and the private sector. 

The sector-wide approach (SWAP) employed by GJLOS recognises that the provision of services within the sector cannot be realised in the absence of inter-agency co-operation. For example, if the Police suddenly emphasize strict law enforcement practices and in the process arrest a large number of offenders, this will immediately have a knock-on effect on the entire criminal justice system. It therefore means that the capacity of court prosecutors and magistrates to be effective must also be addressed simultaneously, as the capacity of the Police is being enhanced.