According to nominated MP Sabina Chege, propaganda on social media is driving resentment among Kenyans.
The MP has remarked that many of the allegations made against the government on social media forums are false and that many Kenyans are unable to discriminate between falsehoods and realities.
According to Chege, the situation has been exacerbated by senior government officials’ ineffective communication with Kenyans.
She referenced the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which she believes has the ability to improve local health systems but has been faced with opposition from Kenyan citizens.
Early this month, the President condemned an ‘evil mentality’ which he claimed was causing Kenyans to reject all governance initiatives.
However, Chege claimed that a lack of accurate information has left many Kenyans vulnerable to propagandists who exploit Kenya’s active social media to fool them.
“There have been lots of issues being raised on government programmes and I’m urging Kenyans not to believe everything they find on social media,” she said.
SHIF, which superseded the defunct NHIF, she added, will allow low-income Kenyans to receive primary health care at little or no cost.
She also defended the mass livestock vaccination program planned for January of next year, which has been opposed by many Kenyans, with some leaders claiming that the vaccine will genetically change their livestock.
“I am a member of the agriculture committee and I have consulted a senior vet who has confirmed that it’s meant to eradicate foot and mouth disease the same way we used to take our cows to the cattle dip before. Issues of preventing farting are just propaganda,” she added.
Chege challenged senior secretaries and cabinet secretaries to engage the public before implementing such projects in order to increase public trust in the administration.
She also warned MPs to stop making foolish comments that undermine Kenyans’ trust in their leaders.She praised opposition CSs for fearlessly defending government policies.
“CSs like John Mbadi have been boldly explaining things that the government is doing. Maybe with him, the finance bill would have passed since many clauses rejected by Kenyans had been removed,” she said.
“As they prepare the next finance bill, treasury officials should be careful while advising the president,” she added.
“Don’t incite the people against the government. Finance and budget committees, when they receive proposals, let them do ample public participation and communicate effectively.”
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