More than 100 public relations executives have convened in Arusha at the East African Community (EAC) conference hall for a 4 days conference, with a central agenda of strengthening public trust and enhancing East African institution governance through communication by public institutions and the private sector.

Speaking in an exclusive interview during the EAST AFRICA PR WEEK — the panel host on building trust in institutional governance — Gilbert Ginono the Country PR Manager of global ride-hailing company Bolt, underscored Bolt Tanzania’s commitment to building trust amongst drivers and riders.

He noted that beyond reinforcing public confidence, the forum was a chance to openly highlight the company’s broader mission of contributing to youth employment and creating new earning opportunities across the region.

“Many investors and organizations are contributing hugely to social economic growth but aren’t publicizing it. At Bolt, we let the public know that over 50 of our top drivers are earning more than Tsh3.6M monthly and even the women enjoy the freedom to balance between home responsibilities and being on the road generating income as drivers”, said Gilbert during his panel discussion. This was to emphasize that the public is more willing to trust institutions when they talk about the impact they deliver.

On the part of government institutions, Loth Makuza, a communication consultant and organizer of the conference emphasized that EAC member states have realized that for governments to deliver effectively, there must be a strong foundation of integrity and mutual trust between citizens and their leaders.