The government has refuted claims that it has hired two international public relations firms to repair the country’s global image.
In a tweet on the official page of Government Spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura clarified that there are no commercial ties with the two PR firms.
He said the one firm has been “sharing presidency news pro bono since March 2020, before President William Ruto’s tenure to help amplify African voices.”
"A recent article suggested that the government has hired two firms for PR. To clarify, there are no commercial ties with these organisations. One organisation has been sharing Presidency news pro bono since March 2020, before President Ruto’s tenure to help amplify African Voices," Mwaura stated.
The article doing rounds on social media claimed that the government has enlisted two news agencies to distribute information about its activities.
The article claimed that the firms have been mandated to position Kenya as an attractive investment hub.
It alleged that since the Gen Z-led protests mid-last year, Kenya has faced significant international scrutiny.
The article further claimed that Western governments and human rights organisations have criticised the administration for using excessive force to suppress demonstrations.
It added that reports of extrajudicial killings, abductions and enforced disappearances have further dented Kenya's global standing.
The article claimed that the Kenya Kwanza administration is now banking on the expertise of one of the firms, whose primary mission is to empower businesses through strategic communication, and the other as a trusted news source.
Both agencies will reportedly assist in amplifying positive narratives about the presidency and key ministries.
The report claimed that media and communications experts were engaged to enhance the government's communication strategies.
The report claimed Kenya Kwanza government is under pressure to restore its image both at home and abroad.
Ruto has been challenging critics to provide fact-based accounts of government performance, cautioning against “reckless negativity” directed at the public.
Speaking during the 2024 Jamhuri Day celebrations, Ruto decried incidents of fake news, which he said is intended to discredit the Kenya Kwanza government.
