Photo Caption : Government Spokesperson Charles Owino addresses the media in Nairobi on August 26, 2026.
NAIROBI, August 26, 2026 — Government Spokesperson Charles Owino has warned that the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation and false information through social media poses a growing threat to Kenya’s democracy, peace and national security.
Speaking during a media engagement in Nairobi, Owino said the widespread availability of smartphones and social media platforms, including at the grassroots, had made it easier for false information to reach large audiences and influence public decisions.
“We are sitting on a time bomb following the rise of misinformation, disinformation and basically making decisions based on false information,” Owino said.
He called for collective collaboration between the Government, media and members of the public to promote national cohesion, responsible communication and respect for shared moral values, saying the fight against false information could not be left to one institution.
Owino urged the media, as the Fourth Estate, to ask hard questions of both the Government and opposition and ensure that public claims are subjected to factual scrutiny before being disseminated.
“We must collaborate all our sentiments with facts and with data. If we don’t do that, then we are going to fail on our responsibility,” he said.
The Government Spokesperson said the need for accurate information was particularly important among young people, including Generation Z, who increasingly rely on digital platforms to obtain information and engage in national affairs.
He also called for responsible exercise of constitutional rights, noting that the freedoms guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 2010 Constitution have limits.
Owino further urged Kenyans to uphold national values and respect the Presidency as a symbol of national unity, saying political differences should not translate into abuse of the office.
“The presidency is a symbol of national unity. You may have a difference with individuals, but the presidency is a symbol of national unity,” Owino said.
He challenged Kenyans to evaluate the performance of the Government against the commitments contained in President William Ruto’s 2022 campaign manifesto instead of relying on unverified political claims.
Owino cited agriculture, affordable housing, universal healthcare, support for micro, small and medium enterprises and the digital superhighway among the key areas in the manifesto.
He said fertiliser prices had declined from about Sh7,000 to Sh2,500, with the Government targeting a further reduction to Sh2,000, while about 7.1 million Kenyans had been registered on digital platforms to improve transparency in fertiliser distribution.
Owino also cited an increase in coffee prices from about Sh60 or Sh70 to Sh160 as an example of developments that should be assessed using facts and data
.On public debt, he said the Government inherited significant financial obligations, including the Eurobond, while facing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, drought and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Turning to education, Owino said the Government had released Sh307.5 billion in school capitation this year to support seamless learning, including Sh18 billion released during the third term.
He said the overall allocation to the Ministry of Education had increased from Sh500 billion in 2022 to Sh784.5 billion this year, while more than 100,000 teachers had been recruited over the past three years
.Another 20,000 teachers are earmarked for recruitment, he said, while more than 25,000 classrooms have been constructed during the period.
Owino also encouraged Kenyans to participate in the ongoing Beyond Vision 2030 consultations by raising concerns, proposing alternatives and contributing ideas on the country’s development priorities beyond 2030.
“Ask hard questions so that we can, and even me, ask me hard questions,” he said.
He also invited Kenyans to participate in Katiba Day celebrations marking 16 years since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, while noting that Kenya was hosting the Second East African Regional Education Conference in Nairobi.
