President William Ruto has dismissed claims that Kenya is headed in the wrong direction, insisting that the country remains stable and continues to progress despite what he described as negative headlines.
Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Ruto said media coverage often focuses on negative stories because they attract attention, even though they do not reflect the full picture of the country.
“I once asked a journalist friend of mine why it is rare to find a positive story in the media,” he said.
“The journalist told me that bad news sells and good news does not sell. When you read the headlines, some people are doing their business and progressing, but the bad news is not the whole story; it is the story to sell the paper,” he added.
The President said many positive developments in the country often go unnoticed because they do not receive the same level of attention as crises and controversies.
“You will not see good news in the headlines. I have no doubt that it does not matter what is written that Kenya is going in the wrong direction,” he said.
He added that negative news tends to be prioritised because it attracts audiences, arguing that this can overshadow progress being made in different sectors of the economy and society.
Ruto maintained that Kenya remains strong and resilient, dismissing concerns about instability or the possibility of state failure.
“Kenya is not and will never be a failed state. When you read the headlines, just know that people are doing their business, and for their business to succeed, they must write about bad news because that is what sells,” he said.
“I don’t care how many headlines are written that Kenya is going in the wrong direction. This country will never go in the wrong direction,” he added.
The President also said the country has many reasons to be grateful.
“We have many things to thank God for, and I say so without any fear of contradiction. God has been gracious to our nation for the last three years,” he said.
The National Prayer Breakfast brought together leaders from government, the judiciary, Parliament and the private sector for prayers and reflections on national unity.
