President William Ruto has slammed youthful Kenyans who have turned social media into the next front of government criticism as he wound up a two-day tour of his North Rift home turf.

Of concern to Ruto during the tour is the manipulation of his image and that of other leaders and placing them in coffins.

The President has been on a whirlwind development tour of Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu since Thursday, amidst sharp criticism by digitally savvy young Kenyans who have taken social media by storm with cartoons and silhouettes. 

During the final tour in Uasin Gishu today, Ruto and his close allies described the social criticism as a serious erosion of morals in Kenyan society.

He appeared to fight back against what he termed as harsh criticism by youth and blamed the trend on political leaders who he claimed were sponsoring young people for selfish political gains. 

Among youth criticising the Head of State online are those from Rift Valley counties that voted him to the last man.

The President used his development to ask them to stop the use of images placed in caskets to criticize him, but instead use digital creativity to earn income.

 “I want to ask those who are using digital spaces to criticise the government not to be used by selfish politicians to put images of leaders in graves and coffins,” the President said during the official opening of Nigeria Technical Training Institute in Kapseret. 

Ruto expressed fears that the youths placing images of leaders might soon turn out to be a security threat. 

 “I want to tell them that today, they will place images of leaders in coffins, and tomorrow they put their parents and then they follow it with their friends and eventually they resort to actual killings,” said Ruto in his home county. By By Stephen Rutto, The Standard