Political claims aimed at discrediting government projects and programmes must be backed by evidence, Deputy Government Spokesperson Gabriel Muthuma has said, accusing some political actors of relying on propaganda and unverified allegations to shape public opinion.
Muthuma said journalists and the public have a responsibility to question sweeping statements by politicians, warning that misinformation and disinformation were becoming a growing challenge as internet and social media use expands.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Thursday, he pointed to former US President Joe Biden’s warning about an “avalanche of misinformation and disinformation” during his farewell speech, saying the problem extended beyond Kenya.
“Now you can imagine Kenya for us being big or major consumers of social media and the internet. What that just portends,” Muthuma said.
He called on journalists to take a more active role in questioning public figures and demanding proof for claims made in the political arena.
“Most importantly, our work is cut out. That we must call out propaganda at every juncture,” he said.
Muthuma was responding to allegations by People’s Renaissance Movement (PRM) leader and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi over a Sh4.7 million charge allegedly being imposed on public institutions under the Whole-of-Government Domain and Email Security programme.
Amisi has questioned how the figure was arrived at and claimed the charge could generate more than Sh1.89 billion across government institutions. He has also raised questions over the procurement process and alleged that a private entity could take a substantial portion of the funds.
Muthuma also rejected claims that a cyberattack on President William Ruto’s official website was staged to create a reason for increased cybersecurity spending.
He said cyberattacks were a continuing threat to governments, financial institutions and major technology companies, regardless of their size.
“Governments, banks are attacked. Some of the biggest software companies like Microsoft, they’ve been vulnerable,” he said.
According to Muthuma, cyber incidents can arise from outside an organisation or from weaknesses within its systems. These may include compromised login details, outdated systems or deliberate acts of sabotage.
He further accused political actors of attaching misleading narratives to government infrastructure projects, citing the Rironi-Mau Summit Road as an example.
Muthuma said the Ruto administration inherited Sh175 billion in pending road bills, a situation he said contributed to contractors abandoning some sites. He said the government later sought about Sh65 billion to enable contractors to return and resume construction.
“We all were here in 2025 when the president inaugurated that road,” Muthuma said, disputing claims that the current administration was taking credit for a project delivered by the previous government.
He also defended the Social Health Authority (SHA) against criticism that the programme was not working, saying claims about its performance should similarly be tested against evidence.
“If the CEO of the largest private hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa can come out in front of the nation and say that they are treating people on a daily basis through SHA,” he said, challenging critics to provide evidence to support claims that the programme was failing.
His remarks came days after DCP Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs Peter Mbae told Radio Generation that President Ruto should complete the Rironi-Mau Summit Road but should not take credit for the project.
“Let President Ruto build the Rironi–Mau Summit Road, but it’s not his achievement. Let it be known that it was President Uhuru’s project,” Mbae said.