‘Fake people!’: MP Sudi dismisses gov’t criticism by Kenyans on social media

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has urged Kenyans to ignore social media criticism against the Social Health Authority (SHA) and register for the new public health insurance scheme.

Speaking during a church service at AIC Pioneer in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on Sunday, Sudi, an ally of President William Ruto, dismissed those faulting the dysfunctional healthcare cover as “fake” people who do not know what they are talking about.

“A lot of people are speaking without full knowledge of what the ordinary Kenyan is going through. We who hold medical bill fundraisers are the ones who know what we’re talking about. You have elected us to be your leaders; those speaking on social media, let us fail if we will, but follow our policies first. You will deal with us if we fail,” the MP told churchgoers.

“Don’t listen to the crookery on social media; those people online are fake know-it-alls… some were inciting others doing the Gen-Z protests yet they have never built a country, they don’t know the price of cement.”

Sudi urged people to register for SHA, saying the backlash is from wealthy people who can foot their medical bills and not the needy Kenyans the scheme seeks to benefit most.

Sudi joins Ruto’s allies who have come out to dismiss online criticism against the government.

Last week, Hassan Joho, a former opposition politician who Ruto this year appointed Mining Cabinet Secretary, criticised social media users for what he called insulting the presidency.

"I want to tell the young people, nchi haiwezi pelekwa namna hiyo. Wewe unakaa kwa mtandao, unakosa uzalendo; you become so unpatriotic. Wengine wanasema Raila Odinga aanguke African Union," Joho ssaid on Tuesday.

"How unpatriotic can you be as Kenyans that even one of your own ako na nafasi ya kuongoza pahali pazuri, kwa sababu ya kisiasa ya kizembezembe mnaanza kusema he must fall? We will come for you, my friend."

The new public healthcare system, which Ruto recently renamed ‘Taifa Care’, has been heavily criticised for its meagre benefits as well as cries from Kenyans unable to access healthcare under it since the transition began in early October.

However, Ruto and senior government officials like his health cabinet secretary, Deborah Barasa, have defended it and even called for patience from Kenyans.

MP Oscar Sudi: Ignore Kenyans on social media. They are fake people and they don't know what they are doing pic.twitter.com/MSYkSIBJ6Z