Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke has urged marketing professionals to be well versed in the emerging technological trends to debunk any misleading information.
In his address during the Marketing Association of Kenya (MSK) Chair’s Power Breakfast, held at a Nairobi hotel on Friday 23rd, May this year, the PS said that in this era of technological advancement, there is need to ascertain the truth to avoid misleading the public.
“The line between truth and propaganda is very thin. AI uses structured data that can be twisted at times to relay misleading information. You have to know how AI works to get your facts right and communicate constantly to the public,” he said.
The PS highlighted the significance of the event’s theme, “Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Redefining the Role of Marketing in Business Leadership,” noting that it gives a new perspective, on where marketing is not a department, but a core leadership capability.
“In the age of the empowered consumer, of real-time feedback loops, and of social media activism, the marketer is no longer an afterthought. The marketer is the architect of perception, the translator of customer voice, and often, the conscience of the brand,” the PS stated.
The PS called for the empowerment of marketers not just as builders of brands but builders of nations, “Let us move forward together to a future where marketing is recognized not just as a business function, but as a force for leadership, for transformation, and for national progress.”
He urged the marketing professionals to help project positive messages on the achievements realised by the public and private sectors for the betterment of the country.
PS Isaboke said that, “as we look to the future, we must embrace a new kind of leadership—one that is integrated across disciplines, inclusive of diverse voices, and insight-driven in its decisions.”
The PS disclosed that in this Information Age, “when AI driven by data is taking over and controlling everything, the role of the marketer is to be the true North in brand and corporate or public communications.”
He shared his personal reflection, saying “my own journey has been shaped not just by policy and management, but by communication, by collaboration, and by learning to listen before leading.”
Further adding that Leadership is not about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions and then inviting others to answer with you.
PS Isaboke further challenged the marketers that “when you rise, lift others with you. Because every ceiling broken becomes a floor for someone else to stand on.”
He spurred them to dream big, “So I say this to the marketers in the room, dare to see yourselves as more than functional experts, claim your seat at the leadership table—not with apology, but with authority.”
In conclusion, PS Isaboke further said, “Let us not settle for merely peeking through the glass ceiling. Let us break through it—with confidence, with clarity, and with courage. Let us redefine leadership—not as a fixed path, but as an evolving journey where creativity, empathy, and vision are just as critical as profit and policy.”
In attendance were; MSK Chairperson Ms. Zuhura Odhiambo, Vice Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce, Eng. Patrick Obath, Founder and CEO of Re-Imagine Impact Associates Limited, Ms. Sicily Kariuki, WPP Scangroup CEO Ms. Patricia Ithau, amongst other stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
