Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has criticised comedian Eddie Butita and media personality Alex Mwakideu over their recent remarks highlighting government projects, accusing the two of presenting an incomplete picture of the country’s governance record.
Salasya said Butita and Mwakideu were free to support or criticise the government, but questioned what he described as their sudden focus on showcasing development projects.
In a statement, the lawmaker argued that Kenyans should not judge the performance of an administration solely through completed projects, ribbon-cutting ceremonies or organised site visits.
“My friends YY, Eddie Butita, Alex Mwakideu… You have suddenly found your voices when it comes to ‘showing projects’,” Salasya said.
“You are free to support or critique any administration. But do not insult the public’s intelligence by presenting half the picture and calling it courage,” he added.
Salasya said a comprehensive assessment of the government should also consider issues such as public debt, taxation, the cost of living, insecurity and the delivery of public services.
He further cited stalled projects, procurement concerns and unfulfilled political commitments as areas that should form part of any discussion about the government’s performance.
The Mumias East MP challenged those highlighting development projects to also explain how the projects were financed, how public funds were spent and whether the intended outcomes had been achieved.
“If you want to discuss development, then discuss governance comprehensively,” Salasya said, adding that achievements should be considered alongside failures and political commitments alongside their implementation.
His remarks came amid increased public debate over the government’s development record, with supporters pointing to infrastructure and other projects while critics have continued to raise concerns over taxation, the economy, public spending and service delivery.
Salasya also questioned whether project-focused content provided sufficient scrutiny of government performance.
“Do not reduce public accountability to a tour of projects that photograph well,” he said.
He accused Butita and Mwakideu of engaging in what he termed “political damage control disguised as content,” while insisting that Kenyans were capable of examining government performance beyond publicity.
“Kenyans are capable of reading beyond the headlines. They know the difference between genuine public-interest analysis and government PR,” Salasya said.