President William Ruto on Friday, January 10, criticised a section of Kenyans for circulating social media images depicting senior government officials inside coffins.
Speaking in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu County, the Head of State accused certain politicians of funding young Kenyans to tarnish the reputation of government officials through such posts.
Ruto stated that he had received reports indicating that some politicians had paid young social media users to create and share the controversial images.
Addressing residents, the president warned youths in the area against engaging in such misconduct, emphasising that it was harmful to society and could adversely affect their own families.
The Head of State warned that such impunity had dire consequences, as it fostered a culture of violence and the devaluation of human life.
“I want to ask the youths not to be lured by small amounts of money to create images showing government officials inside coffins,” President Ruto remarked.
He cautioned, “Today, you will put your leaders inside a coffin; tomorrow, you will do the same to your parents, your siblings, and eventually, you will begin to kill each other.”
President Ruto urged young people to use their skills constructively to create job opportunities instead of wasting time and resources criticising the government.
He also called on politicians allegedly involved in such schemes to refocus their efforts on meaningful activities rather than contributing to the destruction of an entire generation.
“I want to tell our young people that good morals pay. Instead of using the internet to post pictures of people in coffins, use it to create jobs for yourselves and improve your lives,” the president advised.
Ruto's sentiments followed barely a week after about five youths believed to have been abducted in December were found alive and abandoned in different regions across the country.
Reports suggested that the young Kenyans could have been allegedly abducted for reportedly sharing controversial and disturbing images of senior government officials in their social media accounts.
Among those who were reportedly abducted but found alive included Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Benard Kavuli, cartoonist Kibet Bull and his brother Ronny Kiplagat.
