Nominated MP Sabina Chege during a food issuance exercise at Mukarara in Gatanga, Murang'a County
Propaganda being spread on social media is fueling
discontent amongst Kenyans, nominated MP Sabina Chege has said.
The MP has noted that many things being peddled on social media
forums against the government are untrue and that many Kenyans are unable to
distinguish lies from facts.
Chege has said the challenge has further been compounded by the failure of senior government officials to communicate with Kenyans effectively.
She cited the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) which she
said has the potential to change local health systems for the better but which
has been met with resistance by Kenyans.
Early this month, the President decried an ‘evil spirit’
that he said was causing Kenyans to reject all government initiatives.
But Chege said the lack of the correct information has left many
Kenyans at the mercy of propagandists who take advantage of the vibrant social
media to deceive Kenyans.
“There have been
lots of issues being raised on government programmes and I’m urging Kenyans not
to believe everything they find on social media,” she said.
SHIF that has succeeded the defunct NHIF, she said, will
make it possible for low-earning Kenyans to access primary health care at
little or no cost.
She also defended the mass livestock vaccination drive
scheduled for January next year which has also been opposed by many Kenyans
with some leaders alluding that the vaccine will genetically modify their
livestock.
Residents of Mukarara village in Gatanga use their mobile phones to take video recordings during a food issuance exercise
“I am a member of the agriculture committee and I have
consulted a senior vet who has confirmed that it’s meant to eradicate foot and
mouth disease the same way we used to take our cows to the cattle dip before.
Issues of preventing farting are just propaganda,” she added.
Chege challenged principal secretaries and cabinet
secretaries to engage members of the public before rolling out such programmes
to raise their trust in the government.
She also urged MPs to desist from making reckless comments that erode Kenyan’s faith in their leaders.
She lauded CSs from the opposition that she said have been
fearlessly defending government programmes.
“CSs like John Mbadi have been boldly explaining things that the government is doing. Maybe with him, the finance bill would have passed since many clauses rejected by Kenyans had been removed,” she said.
“As they prepare the next finance bill, treasury officials should be careful while advising the president. Don’t incite the people against the government. Finance and budget committees, when they receive proposals, let them do ample public participation and communicate effectively.”