President William Ruto/ FILEPresident William Ruto has said his administration’s failure to communicate its achievements has allowed what he termed as opposition narratives, propaganda, fake news and misinformation to dominate public debate.
Ruto said some of his allies had been intimidated into remaining silent about the government milestones leaving the administration vulnerable to criticism despite what he described as significant achievements.
“The reason why some of us don't speak is because we have been intimidated as though we have done nothing,” Ruto said.
The President was speaking during the Broad-Based Government meeting in Naivasha, Nakuru County, where he challenged leaders supporting his administration to explain its record to Kenyans.
“Which other administration has done what we have done?” he asked.
Ruto said the media had repeatedly questioned why government leaders were reluctant to appear on media platforms to defend the administration.
“And you see the media people keep telling me, Mr President, your people refuse to come to the media houses,” he said.
According to Ruto, the absence of government voices from public discussions had created space for what he described as opposition propaganda and misinformation.
“So we are bombarded with opposition nonsense, propaganda, fake news and misinformation when we have a credible record that nobody can dispute,” he said.
The President challenged his allies to focus on what the government had delivered rather than allowing its opponents to define the administration’s performance.
He cited infrastructure projects as some of the achievements that he said should be communicated to the public.
“If we talk about Kenol-Murang’a Road, there are people from Kenol-Murang’a Road who are here. That road has been done, is it or not?” Ruto asked.
He also pointed to ongoing road and railway projects, telling leaders that some of the developments were visible to the public.
“Isn’t the Lamu project ongoing? As well as the road from here to Rironi is ongoing... Haven’t you seen for yourselves that the railway project is also progressing?” he said.
Ruto questioned why the government was allowing narratives about its performance to dominate when projects were ongoing in different parts of the country.
“Why don't we speak about our record?” he asked.
The remarks came as Ruto sought to rally leaders within the Broad-Based Government to take greater responsibility for communicating the administration’s work ahead of the 2027 General Election.
During the meeting, the President described the gathering as consequential, saying it brought together a large group of political leaders whose decisions would influence the country’s future.
He said the Broad-Based Government was the largest gathering of political leaders in Kenya apart from the Grand Coalition Government.
“The future of our nation is dependent on the decisions that we make in this meeting,” Ruto said.
He also urged leaders to recognise that political differences should not override their shared responsibility to the country.
He revealed that he had reached out to the late ODM leader Raila Odinga immediately after the 2022 General Election, dismissing suggestions that their engagement only began two years ago.
“I did engage the Honourable Raila Odinga immediately after the election, with a view of minimising the differences, the rough edges, because ultimately we are citizens of one nation, irrespective of our political situations,” Ruto said.
He said political competition remained necessary but leaders should remember that they belonged to one country.
“Yes, we must compete. Yes, we must have different points of view. But bottom line is that we belong to one nation,” he said.
