- Regulations likely to affect top government officials including advisers.
- Government also seeks to train staff on social media policy.
Image: HANDOUT
The government has moved to regulate the use of social media among public servants in sweeping new changes christened "digital hygiene".
In a new circular, the government says the uncontrolled use of social media by some civil servants fuelled the recent youth-led protests that culminated in an attack on Parliament, massive destruction of property and disruption of activities.
The Ministry of Public Service now says accounting officers in all government departments must police use of social media.
"The government has directed that authorised/accounting officers should enforce the code of conduct and inculcate a culture of digital hygiene and discipline through clear policy and institutional framework," a circular by Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha states.
It is copied to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
The new policy could affect top government officials, including ministers and advisers, who have come under fire for talking down to Kenyans through social media.
In the dissolved Cabinet, ex-Public Service CS Moses Kuria and President William Ruto’s economic adviser David Ndii ruffled feathers especially on their sarcastic responses to Kenyans on concerns about the high cost of living.
Ndii posted on social media that Kenyans had been let down by promises by "greedy" politicians.
He also suggested the country was in the worst possible financial situation and would require "pain" to resuscitate it.
While reacting to public outcry over the rising cost of fuel, Kuria said dissatisfied individuals should "sink their own oil wells."
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua called out the two for their "reckless" utterances.
“Leaders must be mindful of the challenges Kenyans are facing, especially during these difficult economic times,” Gachagua said.
The ministry's circular says social media posts by some civil servants aggravated unrest in the country.
“The recent protests have heightened concerns about public servants’ roles on social media, which have sometimes negatively portrayed the government and notably contributed to the protests,” the circular states.
“Some public servants exacerbated protester’s grievances through displays of insensitivity such as opulence and inappropriate public displays.”
Public display of opulence at a time many Kenyans could not afford a meal was among the issues that made the Gen Zs to take to the streets in month-long protests.
The circular also blamed uncontrolled use of social media for the rampant leakage of confidential government information and documents.
“These issues are attributed to shortcoming in the existing Code of Conduct for the Public Servants and reduced training sessions,” Gathecha says.
“In order to address the concerns, the government has directed the accounting officers to enforce the Code of Conduct and inculcate a culture of digital hygiene and discipline through clear policy and institutional framework.”
The communication was made to all Principal Secretaries, accounting officers as well as the Solicitor General.
Gathecha wants government departments to regularly train their staff on professionalism especially during the time of social media activism.
“Promote national values, professionalism and ethical conduct in public service through regular training and mentorship programmes,” the PS directs accounting officers.
The training should not be affected by budget cuts to ensure all staff align to the new social media policy.
“Ring-fence training budgets to ensure that austerity measure do not affect key training activities,” Gathecha says.