Public Relations Practice Abused in Kenya

The first ever event to be organized by the Public relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) in conjunction with the Global alliance for Public Relations and communication (GA) focused on emerging economies has led the Public relations profession to another level. Recently most industries started embracing the importance of Public Relations in order to avoid scandals. A few milestones have been made but still a lot needs to be done to have standards and discipline in such a profession.

According to Forbes, PR is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the public. This management function has the potential to totally ruin an organization or develop to a greater height.

Unfortunately, most people are in the Public Relations field for all the wrong reasons. Just like teaching in the past PR is one of the most abused professions in the country. Most PR practitioners are in the field as an easy way out to buy time out for something better and different.

PR to some people is a free ticket to a “better life”. PR is associated with glamour and financial rewards, which attracts a big number of impressionable people with little or no idea of the profession’s tenets and mechanics. Most undergraduate seeking a PR profession have little or no knowledge of what it entails or its importance.

Unfortunately, even as PRSK follows up on the drafting and eventual enactment of the Act, the society still does not have a code of ethics. This should have been one of the initial initiatives as it is fundamental to the growth of any profession. Understandably, though, ethics is a minefield for the industry as a result of the many unqualified and unprofessional practitioners who have got ahead through subterfuge.

The practice of Public Relations in the country should be emphasized by being specific if the level one could get to be certified and accredited a PR practitioner. This will be definite if a clear definition of Public Relations could be made.

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Written by Amina Martha.