Why Kenyans must talk about the country positively – Joho explains

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs CS Hassan Joho has explained why the people of Kenya must positively sell the country on social media.

Speaking during the Kilifi International Investment Conference, Joho narrated an instance where he accompanied President William Ruto to New York and they went for a pitch to potential investors in the country’s blue economy.

He said in the meeting, almost all questions that were asked by the investors came from what is said by Kenyans on social media platforms.

The Cabinet Secretary said that they found it hard to respond to some of these questions, yet they formed 90 per cent of what was asked.

Joho said this is why he insists that Kenyans must be responsible in what they say about the country online.

“I was with the president in New York and in one of the meetings where I was trying to sell the Blue Economy space, 90 per cent of the questions that were being asked were informed from some space in social media and we could not really answer. We are only asking, let us be responsible it is our country we cannot have another Kenya. One year wasted is far too long for the future generation,” he said.

Joho noted that nation-building is not an easy thing and that all efforts that have been put into developing the country are not for us those in government.

He insisted that it is for the generations that will come after, adding that each and everyone has a role to play in nation-building

“Nation building is not an easy job and those in government, including the president, when they build don’t ever assume because I’m a minister what I do, I’m doing it for myself. We are doing it for the current and future populations. It is important we realise that every Kenyan in one way or another they have a contribution to make. And I want to urge all of us to sell our country positively,” Joho said.

He further called on the private sector players present at the conference to be good ambassadors of Kenya and to inform the world that Kenya is ripe and ready for investments.

“We have a system that works. Kenya is a liberalized economy and there is a lot of space to do business.”

Joho came under fire a few days ago after he told off social media users for being too negative and critical of the government programmes.

He said if they did not stop, the government would also come after them, insisting that a nation cannot be built by sitting and posting negativity online.

"It cannot be built by people whose work revolves around Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Let me put them on notice, we can also talk. If they bring us trouble, we can also cause them trouble. They're not the only ones with a mouth," Joho said.