President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Wednesday, November 25, finally explained why he suddenly exited on Facebook and Twitter in March 2019.
Speaking during the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) signature collection phase held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC), the head of state disclosed that he deactivated his social media accounts because of unending insults.
He further hinted that he had lost sleep severally over what trolls were saying about him and his projects on social media.
"You see I left Twitter and other social media sites because I saw they are full of insults and nothing constructive. You sit there reading the comments instead of sleeping. 'Oh, what have they said?'
"They make calls asking people to see how how the trolls have attacked. I would rather sleep or talk to my wife," stated Uhuru.
Uhuru's social media pages were abruptly deactivated in March 2019 in what was revealed as a move to allow for the remedial recovery measures to be undertaken.
"On account of unauthorized access to the official social media handles of H.E the President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, all official social media handles for the President have been temporarily suspended to allow for the necessary remedial measures to be undertaken.
"It seems the President’s stand on corruption has generated all manner of reactions," stated State House Chief of Staff, Nzioka Waita at the time.
At the time of the suspension, President Kenyatta had the highest social media following on both Twitter and Facebook among African heads of state with over 3.6 million followers on Twitter alone.
Kenyans on Twitter have, for a long time, earned a bad name owing to their notorious bullying tendencies.
Social media does not, however, have to be a force for evil all the time as some Kenyans have benefited immensely after their plights were blown up online.
Mary Wambui's appointment was suspended on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, after Uhuru nominated her as the chair of the National Employment Authority Board.
The appointment had infuriated Kenyans who held the opinion that the 69-year-old ex-legislator was unqualified to have any meaningful impact on youth unemployment in Kenya.
Kenyans also went to the rescue of internet star Alvan Gatitu who was forced to sleep in the cold on Saturday night, July 4, after being locked out by his landlord - an experience she shared online.
Kenyans supported him by sending money to his M-Pesa and bank accounts.
Below is the video:
President Uhuru: Mimi nilitoka Twitter kwa sababu huko ni matusi tu...afadhali nipige story na mama, nilale, niamke nifanye kazi pic.twitter.com/iNo5LdyaG8
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) November 25, 2020
