President William Ruto on Thursday called on Kenyans to remain vigilant against disinformation, which he said seeks to derail development, undermine democracy, and destabilize the nation for narrow political interests.
Speaking during the Jamhuri Day Celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, the President emphasized the dangers of fake news in the digital age.
“We are at the stage in social development when digital technologies have immense capacity to amplify disinformation, magnify fake news and distort facts beyond all recognition,” he said. “If we give in to these emerging negative trends, we shall pay with our freedom, democracy, and development.”
President Ruto urged critics of his administration to base their discourse on facts rather than spreading falsehoods, noting that much opposition to government initiatives stems from misinformation.
He outlined the government’s progress despite the disinformation campaigns, stating, “We are no longer where we were a year, let alone two years ago. We have moved beyond pledges and commitments and are now making progress with our implementation strategies.”
President Ruto highlighted strides in stabilizing the economy, lowering the cost of living, and reducing inflation, which he said is at a 17-year low.
He pointed to tangible results in job creation, healthcare, and food security as evidence of the government’s progress.
“Our rejuvenated micro, small, and medium enterprises have created 840,000 jobs this year,” he said. Additionally, 200,000 jobs have been created through affordable housing programs, with another 243,000 Kenyans securing international jobs since September 2022.
On healthcare, Ruto said the Taifa Care initiative has already registered 11 million Kenyans under the Social Health Authority in just two months.
The government has also engaged 107,000 community health promoters to support universal healthcare.
The President described ICT as a key driver for economic growth, noting the digitization of 20,855 public services and fibre optic connections to 74,000 institutions.
Meanwhile, affordable housing projects have reached significant milestones, with 1,200 units completed and 124,000 in various stages of development.
“Our delivery pipeline for affordable housing now has a total of 124,000 units at various stages of development across Kenya, while 840,000 planned projects over the next four years are projected to create one million jobs,” he said.
President Ruto cited surplus food production as a significant achievement, with stocks including 95 million bags of maize, nine million of beans, and 10 million of wheat.
“Step by step, we are building a food-secure Kenya where every family can afford and access a meal,” he added.
He also highlighted the progress in special economic and export processing zones, which have attracted 80 companies in two years, generating 14,000 jobs.
Future projects, including the Dongo Kundu and Naivasha zones, are expected to create an additional 26,000 jobs.
In support of the creative economy, President Ruto outlined plans for a real-time royalty collection system to ensure fair compensation for artists.
“This injustice must end,” he said, referring to artists earning as little as KSh10,000 annually while collection bodies pocket millions.
He also announced Kenya’s bid to host the 2026 World Creative Economy Conference, showcasing its leadership in the sector.
The event, attended by dignitaries including Gambian President Adama Barrow, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and other leaders, also featured the traditional Trooping of the Colour by the military in honor of the Commander-in-Chief.
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