President Ruto Warns Diaspora Against Relying on Social Media for Kenya News

President William Ruto has urged Kenyans living abroad to exercise caution when consuming news from social media platforms, warning that misinformation and manipulated content have become pervasive in Kenya’s information landscape.

During a meeting with Kenyans living in Rome, Italy on Monday evening, the President expressed concern over what he described as deliberate efforts to distort information for political purposes.

“If you go to social media today, you’ll think there is nothing good happening in Kenya. I ask you not to rely on social media for home news,” President Ruto told the gathering as part of his two-day official visit to Italy.

The President used the opportunity to reassure the diaspora community that his administration remains focused on its transformation agenda despite resistance from critics. “My focus is not about the next General Election. I am focused on transforming Kenya,” he stated, adding that poor leadership has historically delayed the country’s development trajectory.

Ruto highlighted his administration’s economic management achievements, noting that Kenya successfully avoided defaulting on its debt obligations despite being flagged as a high-risk country. “Many people predicted that six countries in Africa would default on debt. Out of the six, five defaulted. Kenya did not,” he said, crediting his government’s fiscal discipline and difficult economic decisions for averting a potential crisis.

The President outlined several accomplishments of his administration over the past three years, pointing to the implementation of universal health coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a significant milestone. “As we speak, 30.6 million Kenyans have registered with SHA in the past 18 months compared to eight million in the 60 years of the defunct National Health Insurance Fund,” Ruto said. He added that SHA will be disbursing Sh13 billion to hospitals for services provided in March 2026, equivalent to what the former NHIF collected in six months.

The Affordable Housing Programme was also highlighted as a transformative initiative that is changing Kenya’s urban landscape. According to the President, nearly 270,000 housing units are under construction across 210 sites nationwide, creating approximately 640,000 jobs and improving living conditions for many Kenyans.

In the agricultural sector, Ruto reported significant progress, with maize production increasing from 44 million bags in 2022 to 70 million bags in 2025, eliminating the need for imports. He also mentioned reforms in the coffee and sugar industries that have benefited farmers through higher prices and more reliable payment systems.

“We’ve restored law and order in the coffee, tea, and sugar cane sectors by eliminating cartels who had frustrated farmers’ efforts,” the President said, noting that coffee cherry prices have risen from an average of Sh60 per kilogram three years ago to between Sh110 and Sh160 currently.

Sugar production has also seen substantial growth, increasing from 500,000 tonnes in 2022 to 815,000 tonnes in 2025. “In a couple of years, Kenya will be a net exporter of sugar,” Ruto predicted.

Addressing diaspora-specific concerns, the President highlighted the establishment of the State Department of Diaspora Affairs as evidence of his government’s commitment to addressing challenges faced by Kenyans living abroad. He noted that 540,000 Kenyans have secured employment overseas through government initiatives, including bilateral labor agreements with countries such as Germany, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and the United Kingdom.

These agreements aim to protect Kenyan workers from exploitation and ensure fair compensation, Ruto explained. He also mentioned that over 600 unscrupulous recruitment agencies have been deregistered to safeguard Kenyans seeking foreign employment.

The President acknowledged the significant economic contribution of the diaspora, with remittances increasing from $4 billion in 2022 to $5.2 billion last year. “Diaspora remittances remain the largest source of foreign exchange in the country,” he said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also serves as Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, reinforced the government’s commitment to diaspora affairs, noting the recent appointment of Kenya’s first ambassador to the Vatican as a significant development.

Equity Group CEO James Mwangi, who accompanied the President as part of the business delegation, encouraged Kenyans abroad to invest in their homeland, particularly in the leather and coffee industries, to drive economic growth.