Government Rebuts NTV’s Fact-Check on President Ruto’s State of the Nation Address
Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenyan government has issued a strong rebuttal to NTV’s recent fact-check report titled “The Truth, Half Truths and Lies,” which scrutinized several claims made by President William Ruto during his State of the Nation address. The government spokesperson, Dr. Isaac Mwaura, CBS, released a detailed statement on November 22, 2024, contesting the accuracy of NTV’s report.
In the NTV report, conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Kenya and Kellen Kenya, several claims made by President Ruto were assessed. These included assertions about economic measures, milk production, healthcare claims, government responsiveness, and the digitization of services.
Milk Production Controversy
NTV disputed President Ruto’s claim that milk production rose from 4.6 billion liters in 2022 to 5.2 billion liters in 2023, representing a 14% increase. According to NTV, the 2024 Economic Survey indicated a 7% increase to 4.5 billion liters. However, Dr. Mwaura countered this, stating that NTV’s figures were provisional and thus their fact-check was misleading.
“The truth is that Kenya’s milk production increased by 14% to 5.2 billion liters in 2023 as stated by His Excellency President William Ruto, with projections to surpass 6 billion liters this year,” Dr. Mwaura asserted. He emphasized the growth in the dairy sector, noting Kenya’s rise to become Africa’s leading dairy producer, overtaking Egypt. He also highlighted the 16.4% increase in dairy production and a 49% rise in dairy export value from Kshs 4.9 billion to Kshs 7.3 billion.
Economic and Health Claims
NTV’s report also challenged the president’s claims regarding budget expenditure and healthcare claims settlement. They noted an increase in expenditure for the 2022/23 financial year and raised concerns about the settlement of pending health claims. Dr. Mwaura did not address these points directly but emphasized the importance of accurate and ethical journalism.
Digitization of Services
On the digitization of services, NTV stated they could not independently confirm the president’s claim of a growth from 350 to 20,855 services. However, they acknowledged the arithmetic was correct when rounding off. Dr. Mwaura did not specifically address this claim but underscored the overall progress in government services.
Call for Accurate Reporting
Dr. Mwaura’s statement concluded with a call for the media to prioritize factual reporting and avoid sensationalism. “While we respect the critical role of the media in society, we urge them to prioritize factual reporting and avoid sensationalism. Our journalists should always strive to stick to constructive and accurate journalism that is essential in fostering informed public discourse,” he stated.
The government’s response underscores the ongoing tensions between media outlets and the administration, particularly concerning the interpretation and presentation of statistical data. As the political landscape continues to evolve, both the government and media are urged to work together to ensure the public receives accurate and constructive information.
In Summary:
- The government refutes NTV’s claims about milk production growth, asserting a 14% increase as per provisional data.
- Emphasizes Kenya’s leading position in Africa’s dairy production and significant economic contributions from the sector.
- Calls for media to prioritize factual and accurate reporting to foster informed public discourse.
Dr. Mwaura’s rebuttal highlights the importance of accurate data interpretation and the need for collaboration between media and government for the benefit of the public.
