Moses Kuria exposed on X for photoshopping Kenya’s 2023 GDP growth

 

The World of Statistics, a verified page on X (formerly Twitter), shares data regarding various aspects of life, including the world’s richest people, inflation rates in countries, number of public holidays per country, national debt per country, nuclear share of electricity generation per country and prices of various commodities among countless other topics in various industries.

On December 30, 2023, the page shared the statistics of  GDP growth in various countries in the year ended 2023, and only two African countries were on the list.

“GDP growth in 2023: 🇮🇳 India: 6.3% 🇨🇳 China: 5% 🇲🇽 Mexico: 3.2% 🇧🇷 Brazil: 3.1% 🇳🇬 Nigeria: 2.9% 🇪🇸 Spain: 2.5% 🇷🇺 Russia: 2.2% 🇺🇸 US: 2.1% 🇯🇵 Japan: 2% 🇨🇦 Canada: 1.3% 🇫🇷 France: 1% 🇿🇦 South Africa: 0.9% 🇸🇦 Saudi: 0.8% 🇮🇹 Italy: 0.7% 🇬🇧 UK: 0.5% 🇩🇪 Germany: -0.5%,” posted the handlers of World of Statistics.

In Kenya, these facts went viral as it was noted Kenya was not among the African nations listed despite the Kenya Kwanza government claiming that the economy had grown.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria sought to correct this- by photoshopping Kenya’s statistics onto the World of Statistic’s original information.

He went on to photoshop Kenya’s GDP at 5.9%, placing it second on the list after India, indicating it had beaten stronger global economies including China.

“Figures do not lie. It is liars who figure,” said CS Kuria as he released his edited information.

He was caught flatfooted.

“Uko serious right now! You forcefully photoshop what you want?” asked Punda Imechoka.

“Kenyans are not fools,” added Opiyo Ogaya.

“Good at telling an untruth. We’re not fools bwana CS Kuria,” added Hesborn Etyang.

“Boss, it is very wrong to lie to the public! Let the truth vindicate thee. Stop editing things when we live in the age of information,” added Geoffrey Moturi.

“In 2024, just reduce the lies a little bit please,” said Nelson Amenya.

“A whole CS, shame on you!!” said Kiprop Busienei.

“You have no shame. You think we are all UDA supporters who don’t reason?? This is the real ranking and Kenya is not even on top 10,” added Peter Wakaba.

“Even if you lie, be a little bit creative. People are not stupid,” Mwende told CS Kuria.

By June 2023, the National Treasury predicted that the GDP growth will be by 6.1%. However, according to Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro, Kenya’s economy has only grown by 5.9% and is one of the 27 fastest-growing economies in the world.

“As we move forward we want to reflect this GDP growth into the pockets of Kenyans. We are channeling resources to where most Kenyans are,” said Mr Nyoro on January 2, 2024.

However, Kenyans claim they feel no economic growth is happening in the country but only feel pushed against the wall as the government continues increasing taxes to fund government operations.

By Elizabeth Ngigi