Ruto uses CS to explain govt plans and policies

President William Ruto has directed Cabinet secretaries to take the lead in explaining the government’s plans.

Now Ruto has used it to engage with Kenyans on live television and radio shows, countering disinformation and misinformation about his programmes.

Among those sent are people who are considered to be well-versed in the government’s agenda and programmes facilitating contacts with Kenyans.

The president stressed the need for secretaries of state to appear frequently on television and radio during a Cabinet meeting Thursday at the State Capitol, sources said.

Ruto will meet with Generation Z on Friday to explain his policies and address their concerns following a wave of protests against his administration.

The Government is understood to be taking action to plug the information gaps that are responsible for the misinformation and distortions that allegedly plagued the withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.

Over the past three days, some of Ruto’s journalists have appeared on leading TV stations to air the news of the Kenyan Kwanza and lend an ear.

Among those who have already appeared were Defense Secretary Aden Duale, Moses Kuria (Public Service and Procurement) and Kithure Kindiki (Interior Affairs and National Administration).

On Wednesday, Kuria appeared on the KTN News 9pm show hosted by Ken Mijungu to explain the government programme.

CS said it was time for leaders to take action without wasting “a single day.”

“We are short on time, we cannot wait for a single day for all these bureaucracies, so we need to focus more on implementation so that we can deliver results for Kenyans,” Kuria said.

That same day, Duale appeared on Citizen TV’s JKL show hosted by Jeff Koinange to outline government actions and discuss planned programmes.

CS confirmed that Ruto is in full control of the government despite protests from the younger generation.

He explained why the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were deployed to the scene following days of protests across the country.

Duale said the gunmen had detailed plans to burn down the Legislature and Supreme Court and then head to the State Capitol.

However, he claims that the plan was thwarted by the KDF and other security agencies in the country.

“Gen Z wanted to occupy the open space between the mausoleum and the Capitol, but the hired gangs had a systematic plan that Tuesday to burn down the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and maybe the entire Statehouse, and then move on to the State Capitol,” Duale said.

“The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), our security operatives have done a good job to make sure that they save these institutions.”

On Thursday, Kindiki was due to explain the response of government security forces to the protests.

There were concerns that police used excessive and lethal force against unarmed protesters.

Kindiki denied reports that the government abducted some Kenyans before, during and after the protests against the Finance Bill.

“From our point of view, the people who were arrested were arrested. There were no kidnappings,” Kindiki said.

More CSs are expected to appear on top radio and television shows and answer questions in live interviews to inform Kenyans about government programmes.

These presentations are intended to provide an opportunity for Kenyans to ask questions and seek clarification on Kwanza programs in Kenya.

Top government officials will use the sessions to raise citizens’ concerns about the implementation of the government’s manifesto.

The CS will present the progress on various projects that the government has implemented in the last 22 months of President Ruto’s presidency.

Ruto will celebrate his second anniversary in office on September 13, the day he took the oath of office and received the instruments of power from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.

In an interview on Sunday, Ruto said his cabinet would do better to explain the 2024 finance bill to Kenyans.

“My office could perhaps have done better and I intend to consider how to proceed, he said.

On Friday, the former cabinet minister Kipruto Kirwa, however, said it would be better if President Ruto did not deal with Generation ZX.

He said the president should not be on the front lines of every fire.

“‘Meeting Gen Z is unwise. It’s a big mistake,’ Kirwa said.

”He should have looked into how different government bodies should engage with young people and in due course he will do so when he is called upon to do so.”