Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho has escalated his criticism of Kenyans, particularly the youth, who frequently voice their criticisms of the government on social media.
Speaking during President Ruto’s visit to Taita Taveta, Joho expressed frustration with social media users who, in his view, spend their days critiquing the government while doing little to contribute on the ground.
“You can’t be waking up every day with a smartphone, and all you do is criticize the government. People who know what the government is doing are on the ground and not on social media. Most of those notorious critics are even using free Wi-Fi provided by the government.”
Joho, who was once one of President Ruto’s fiercest critics before his appointment to the Cabinet after this year’s GenZ protests, argued that many social media critics do not vote, and no serious politician relies on online support for electoral success.
He shared his own experience running for Mombasa Governor, where he did not rely on his social media following to secure his position. According to Joho, while social media users have a voice, they lack real-world influence, particularly when it comes to voting. He cautioned that if these critics continue to stir trouble, the government is prepared to respond with equal force.
