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STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
| SOCIETY | REGULATORS | SHAREHOLDERS
| MEDIA |
CUSTOMERS | BUSINESS PARTNERS | EMPLOYEES |
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MEDIA
The media play an important role in society through providing a platform for
discussion and debate. They are also an important stakeholder of ours as they
provide us with a channel through which we can communicate with our other
stakeholders, such as our customers. Accordingly, we need to make sure that the
relevant members of the media are presented with the right facts and information
and that significant issues are identified and fully explained so that topics and
events are reported in an accurate and balanced manner.
MONITORING OUR PERFORMANCE
We maintain good working relationships with a wide variety of media
representatives to ensure that our voice is also heard on pertinent issues and to
help provide information and guidance topics that are related to our areas of
expertise. We monitor our performance through regular independent assessments
and engagements with the media. Our latest independent assessment,
conducted by a leading public opinion research consultancy, suggested that
we scored highest among Kenyan companies for prompt and truthful responses
to media enquiries. We also held an engagement with the media in January
2017. The main concern raised by members of the media was the large volume
of stories emanating from the company and we have since adopted stricter
protocols that include more stringent decisions regarding which stores are
newsworthy, more targeted pitching of stories, and monthly themes.
‘FAKE NEWS’ A GROWING CHALLENGE
The biggest challenge we faced during the year was the global trend of the
emergence and growth of ‘fake news’. The popularity and immediacy of social
media has created a medium for unstructured journalism and the publishing of
either unverified information or deliberately misleading stories. The Corporate
Communications Department spent approximately 50% of its time and resources
monitoring this activity and correcting erroneous information during the year,
an increase from around 10% during FY16. In response to this challenge, we
have invested in digital scanning and monitoring tools to assist the social media
monitoring team in identifying fake news.
FY17 HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights from the year included hosting the successful launch of our
Sustainable
Development Goal (SDGs) integration programme
in July 2016 and supporting the
national launch of the SDGs in Kenya by the government at Kasarani stadium in
September 2016. We are delighted to report that these events, combined with
the launch of our annual
Sustainability Report
in November 2016 and
The B Team
- Africa
in February 2017, appear to have established us as thought leaders on
the SDGs and sustainability and we are regularly approached by the media for
information and interviews with our CEO on the subject.
SDG 17