The government has selected Convergence Media, publisher of The Star newspaper, as the sole printer and distributor of the state-run MyGov newspaper for the next two years, according to a letter by ICT Ministry Principal Secretary Kisiang’ani Waswa.
The letter states that a recent tender process resulted in Convergence Media submitting the “lowest and most sustainable bid” to print and circulate MyGov. As part of the new contract, The Star will have exclusive rights to print all public sector advertisements and notices, with few exceptions.
“The purpose of this communication is to inform you that all planned advertisements from public institutions should be forwarded to the Director of Government Advertising Agency by Friday of each week,” Kisiang’ani wrote in the letter dated January 23.
The letter, sent to all government CEOs and agency heads, states the new deadlines are meant to give The Star sufficient time to layout advertisements before MyGov’s Tuesday publication.
Kisiang’ani said exemptions to publish ads outside of MyGov will be rare and require authorization from his office. “Any requests for exemptions to publish advertisements outside MyGov, on a day other than Tuesday, will be directed to the Star newspaper upon authorization by this office,” he wrote.
Kisiang’ani defended the contract award in his letter, saying it will provide the “most sustainable bid” for government ads.
The deal is part of ongoing efforts to centralize and streamline government advertising. A 2017 presidential order established MyGov as the official outlet for public notices. Until now, MyGov was printed in rotation by Kenya’s four largest papers.
