From the right, Maureen Mambo, Evelyn Sero, Peter Mwaura and Ruth Chitwa

By Dephine Mutinda

On 15th November 2023, Daystar University students won an impressive second position at the PRSK Boot Camp held at St. Paul's University Limuru, under the theme "PR for a Greener Tomorrow."

The annual event, which was organized by Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), attracted participation from over 10 universities and offered a unique opportunity for mentorship from esteemed industry professionals.

Renowned Daystar University alumni among them the Ag. Director, Nation Brand Development, Marketing & Communication at the Kenya Export Promotion & Branding Agency, Maureen Mambo, Senior Manager for Sustainability at Safaricom PLC, Evelyn Sero, Communications Manager at Kenya Living Goods, Ruth Chitwa, and Corporate Communications Manager at KCB Group PLC, Peter Mwaura served as mentors during the boot camp.

The event commenced with Peter Mwaura who emphasized the integration of emerging technologies in addressing PR challenges through mainstream media.

Evelyn Sero highlighted the mutual relationship between corporate responsibility and effective public relations, focusing on how businesses can integrate sustainability into their communication strategies for positive impact on society and brand reputation.

Maureen Mambo shared insights into nation branding, underscoring PR's role in shaping and projecting a country's global image through various strategic approaches.

The boot camp also featured Agnanda Cleophas, who shed light on digital storytelling in a polarized world, emphasizing the critical role of packaging stories for the intended audience.

The climax of the boot camp was the annual competition, determining the hosts for the following year. The Multimedia University team emerged the winners with 148 points, with Daystar University coming closely in second position with 145 points, followed by Mount Kenya University who scored 142 points.

Secretary General of Daystar University Students Association, Mr. Newton Kamuyu, who is also a member of Public Relations Association of Daystar University (PRAD), expressed pride in the team's performance, acknowledging the opportunity to learn and improve for the future, and aspiring to host the 2025 boot camp.

PRAD’s Finance Manager, Ms. Wendy Rugut,  expressed her gratitude first for the turn up, remarking the exemplary time management skills from the competing teams.  However, she pointed out the need for early preparation in order to get the house in order.

This insightful event provided a platform for networking and engaging conversations, shaping the future of PR practitioners.

Earlier in the semester on 22nd September, PRAD and PRSK collaborated on a career development event at Daystar University Valley Road Campus, featuring keynote speakers Dennis Okore and Catherine Butaki, exploring the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the evolution of PR.