Fred Matiang'i order on State advertising horribly out of order

Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Technology Fred Matiang’i has directed all Government ministries, State corporations, foreign missions and county governments to submit their advertisements to the newly-formed Government Advertising Unit in a bid to cut down on cost. According to Dr Matiang’i, advertising online using the Government portal would cut costs by more than half.

No one can reasonably be opposed to Government’s efforts to minimise costs and wastage of public resources at all costs. However, it is as plain as a pikestaff the latest ministerial fiat is not out to serve any cost-cutting purpose! Looked at critically, one sees a clever way of attempting to control the media.