Ruto warns diaspora against social media 'fake news,' defends economic agenda

President William Ruto during a meeting with Kenyans living in Rome, Italy, on April 20, 2026. [PCS] President William Ruto has cautioned Kenyans in the diaspora against relying on social media for news from home due to rampant misinformation, fake news, and manipulated content. The President said Kenyans living abroad need to verify information, since there was a lot of deliberate misinformation aimed at achieving political and selfish ends. Addressing Kenyans living in Rome, Italy, on Monday evening, he expressed concern over intentional efforts to distort information for political reasons. "If you go to social media today, you'll think there is nothing good happening in Kenya. I ask you not to rely on social media for home news," President Ruto told the meeting. The President, who is on a two-day Official Visit to Italy, assured the gathering that the government's agenda to transform Kenya into a first-world economy is on course despite resistance from critics. "My focus is not about the next General Election. I am focused on transforming Kenya," he said. He regretted out that the country's transformation agenda has been delayed for a long time due to poor leadership, and he has resolved to make difficult decisions that will take Kenya to the next level. President Ruto told the gathering that his administration's handling of the economy had successfully saved Kenya from defaulting on debt obligations even after it had been flagged as high-risk. The Head of State credited the government's fiscal discipline and tough decisions for shielding the country from an economic crisis. He revealed that it had been predicted in 2023 that six African countries, including Kenya, would default on their financial obligations. "Many people predicted that six countries in Africa would default on debt. Out of the six, five defaulted. Kenya did not," he told the meeting. The President took the opportunity to enumerate the achievements of his administration in the past three years. He said the implementation of universal health coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA) has made healthcare accessible, inclusive, and more affordable to citizens. "As we speak, 30.6 million Kenyans have registered with SHA in the past 18 months compared to eight million in the 60 years of the defunct National Health Insurance Fund," he said. This week, President Ruto announced that SHA will be paying Sh13 billion to hospitals for services provided in March 2026, money equivalent to what the defunct NHIF was collecting in half a year. The President noted that the Affordable Housing Programme is changing the country's skyline with the construction of close to 270,000 housing units in 210 sites, creating 640,000 jobs, restoring dignity to families, and renewing hope in communities across Kenya. Reforms in agriculture, especially the provision of subsidised fertiliser has led to increased production and productivity, he said. Ruto noted that maize production has increased from 44 million bags in 2022 to 70 million bags in 2025, ending perennial national hunger and annual imports. Sectors such as coffee and sugar cane, the President pointed out, registered huge growth and higher incomes for farmers. "We've restored law and order in the coffee, tea and sugar cane sectors by eliminating cartels who had frustrated farmers' efforts and produce more for local consumption and surplus for export," he said. Due to these reforms, the prices of commodities have drastically increased, saying a kilo of coffee cherry now selling at between Sh110 and Sh160, up from an average of Sh60 three years ago. In the sugar sector, public factories have been leased to the private sector and farmers are being paid every seven days after cane delivery, workers monthly pay is regular and farmers receive an annual bonus, the first time it has been possible for sugar farmers. "Our production of sugar has increased from 500,000 tonnes in 2022 to 815,000 in 2025. In a couple of years, Kenya will be a net exporter of sugar." Meanwhile, President Ruto assured Kenyans living abroad that the creation of the State Department of Diaspora Affairs was a deliberate resolve to address challenges facing them. On overseas employment, President Ruto said 540,000 Kenyans have found work abroad as a result of the intentional decisions the government has taken. He cited a crackdown against unscrupulous recruitment agencies, saying more than 600 rogue companies have been deregistered to protect Kenyans. The Head of State said the government has also signed bilateral labour agreements with various countries, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the United Kingdom, aimed at protecting Kenyans against exploitation, harassment and poor remuneration, and addressing challenges facing them abroad. As a result, diaspora remittances have increased from $4 billion in 2022 to $5.2 billion last year. He thanked Kenyans living and working abroad for their immense contribution to the national economy. "Diaspora remittances remain the largest source of foreign exchange in the country," he said. He urged Kenyans to respect the laws of the countries where they live and continue to be good ambassadors of their motherland. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said President Ruto's administration was committed to addressing challenges facing Kenyans abroad. He pointed out that the establishment of the State Department of Diaspora Affairs as well as the recent appointment of an Ambassador to the Vatican is a clear demonstration that the government is committed to improving how it relates to citizens in the diaspora. "For the first time in the history of Kenya, the country will have a representative at the Vatican. This has been long overdue, but an envoy has been posted to the Holy See," Mr Mudavadi said. Equity Group CEO James Mwangi, who was part of the Kenyan business delegation accompanying the President, encouraged Kenyans in the diaspora to invest home to drive economic growth and strengthen national development. He urged them to exploit potential in the leather and the coffee industries, noting that trade and investments remain the only options for prosperity. "We must agree in commercialisation and modernisation if we are to succeed in business," Dr Mwangi said. Kenyans in Italy Chairman Rollex Onyango commended the government for the creation of the State Department of Diaspora Affairs, saying it is addressing challenges facing Kenyans outside their country. Cabinet Secretaries Lee Kinyanjui (Investment and Trade) and John Mugaa (Water and Irrigation), several Principal Secretaries and Kenya Ambassador to Italy Fredrick Matwang'a were present.

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