President William Ruto has weighed into the use of the internet by Kenyans.
Speaking during the Linzi Sukuk Bell-Ringing Ceremony held at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in Westlands, Nairobi, the president noted that the internet was being used more in what he termed as 'kusalimiana'.
The Head of State added that instead of the internet being used for good purposes like accessing digital jobs, it was being used to send him 'encouraging messages'.
"As we deliver the internet and make it accessible, then it can be made useful through access to digital jobs that we are working round the clock to ensure are available, and we can also do more e-commerce. I think it would be a very good experience, different from what is going on now. I think that platform is being used more for 'kusalimiana'," Ruto remarked.
He added, “Sometimes you can become the architect of your own troubles. When we delivered Wi-Fi across Kenya and made it free, we intended it to be used for good purposes. But sometimes it is used to send us encouraging messages."
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The president, however, affirmed that his government was committed to expanding internet connectivity to every ward in the country to give young people a chance to access digital jobs.
“Among the digital commerce that I am looking forward to is trading on government bonds, shares at the exchange and also forex trading so that the many people who we have connected to the internet across Kenya can access digital jobs and that we can do more e-commerce,” Ruto added.
The term 'kusalimiana', loosely translated as 'greeting', emerged during the debate on the 2024 Finance Bill by members of parliament.
Personal mobile phone numbers of the lawmakers were leaked online as some Kenyans sent messages urging them to reject the bill.
