Dilemma as Ruto's target audience plans rival X Space
National
By
Denis Omondi
| Jul 05, 2024
President William Ruto's invite to a scheduled X Space has divided the young Kenyans he hopes to engage, with some planning to have a parallel space to counter his.
It has been confirmed that Ruto's official X account will host the event for three hours from 2.00- 5.00 pm on Friday, July 5.
The president will be joined by his cabinet secretaries to address issues that occasioned the youth-led nationwide protests held in the last three weeks.
However, some online users are worried that an X-Space hosted by the President gives him an advantage in limiting speeches as opposed to one hosted by Kenyans and attended by the President and his cabinet.
A poster doing rounds on X shows a plan to have an alternative space dubbed "Let's Rage On" with social media influencers, Osama Otero and Kimuzi as hosts.
READ MORE
Ruto man Ndii rules out new negotiations with IMF team
Sacco gross loans surpass Sh900b mark
Summit calls for stronger partnerships to tackle youth unemployment
Foreign capital surges as tourism boom drives Sh258 billion
New push to promote dignity in Kenya's coffee trade
Kenya's oil sector on edge amid escalating US-Israeli war on Iran
Loan talks stall as IMF tells Kenya to brace for Iran war fallout
Police ink Sh1.9 billion deal with Co-op Bank to boost mobility
Going nuts: How Kilifi coconut farmers are cracking poverty's shell for wealth
MPs demand names of defaulters as Hustler Fund unpaid loans hit Sh12.5b
However, those of a contrary opinion believe that such a move would be counterproductive to the efforts and wins the young people have made in trying to make the government of President Ruto accountable and more efficient.
By the time of publishing, there were plans to report the space to X as spam, to prevent it from going on.
"Kindly don't be hostages to the social media influencers and involuntary leaders of Gen Z. Let's ask Ruto hard questions. I want to see the future leadership of Kenya demanding answers instead of engaging in useless sideshows. Join that space and ask HARD questions," opined Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai.
The Standard has also established that government ministries, departments, agencies and staff will join the X space discussion for visibility and to show government presence.
#EngageThePresident pic.twitter.com/hE81zNjMr4 - Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) (@CA_Kenya) July 5, 2024