Kidero tops list of most tech-savvy governors on Twitter

Nairobi City governor Evans Kidero is Kenya’s most active county chief executive on Twitter even as nearly a third of governors lack presence on the social media platform. Mr Kidero has 208,841 followers on Twitter and has so far posted 2,626 tweets to emerge Kenya’s top governor ‘tweep’ followed by his Machakos counterpart Alfred Mutua.

The two top governors have been taking to the micro blogging site to post updates and photos on their flagship development projects, day-to-day engagements with relevant stakeholders and their plans.

@KideroEvans has the distinct feature of being the only governor to have a verified Twitter account among his 47 colleagues. His Twitter bio reads: “Governor, Nairobi City County. Better City, Better Life.”

Mr Mutua has 89,050 followers on Twitter and has made 1,417 posts mostly informing the people of Machakos County about the governor’s daily schedule, speeches made at public functions and updates on devolved projects. The bio of @DrAlfredMutua reads: The Official twitter handle for Dr Alfred Mutua, Machakos County Governor

Mombasa governor @HassanAliJoho ranks third with 37,945 fans followed by Bomet’s @IsaacRutoGov (33,992) and Makueni county boss @governorkibwana is graded fifth with 9,895 followers.

However, a total of 13 county governors do not have Twitter accounts, putting them at odds with an increasingly digital Kenyan society which has embraced mobile technology and social media. The list of governors deemed ‘analogue’ due to lack of Twitter presence include Migori’s Zachary Obado, Joseph Nanok of Turkana, Issa Timamy (Lamu), David Nkedianye (Kajiado), Daniel Waithaka (Nyandarua) and Nathif Adam Jaama of Garissa County.

Other old school county chiefs absent on the 140-character limit blogging platform are Patrick Khaemba of Trans Nzoia county, Hussein Dado (Tana River), Godana Doyo (Isiolo), Samwel Mbae (Tharaka Nithi), Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), Moses Kasaine (Samburu) and Samwel Kuntai of Narok.

The importance of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter in providing a link between leaders and their subjects has been growing over the year and is championed by President Uhuru Kenyatta. @UKenyatta—who has a verified account and 547,283 followers—uses Twitter to announce his presidential actions such as assenting to Bills, share his speeches, thoughts, itinerary, and even solicit public views on government performance.

Mr Kenyatta’s Jubilee Coalition touted itself as the ‘digital team’ during the 2013 General Election and outlined a raft of promises in its manifesto to revolutionise Kenya’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

Interestingly, six of the analogue governors were elected on parties that belong to the Jubilee Coalition including TNA, URP and Kanu. “We aim to propel Kenya into Africa’s high-tech capital and creating a ‘Silicon Savannah’ of interconnected telecommunications hubs to power our growing economy,” reads the Jubilee manifesto.

A study on the timeline @KideroEvans reveals the Nairobi governor makes an average of about four tweets a day, and even shares photos and videos via Twitpic.

When the Supreme Court upheld his victory in August, Mr Kidero took to the micro blogging site to thank his supporters and express his elation at the judgment. “We have come so far ... and there’s still a lot more to be done,” said @KideroEvans.

Commenting on the roll-out of cash-lite payments for parking and other statutory fees, this is what the governor said: “A more convenient way to pay for your business permit, rent, land rates, parking and water bill. #eWallet”

Another post complete with a videio link to YouTube reads “A new maternity wing at Mbagathi Hospital. Find out what this means for mothers.” Mr Mutua is a Twitter addict who uses the platform to post catchy updates as well as trendy photos of himself undertaking county duties.

One of the most viral tweets by @DrAlfredMutua was when he unveiled a 33 kilometre tarmac road in July constructed at a cost of Sh650 million. “Today is historic! We have launched the fastest built Highway in Africa - 33 kms in 3 months and at a 1/3rd of cost,” said @DrAlfredMutua in a tweet posted at 11.55 am on June 26.

The post which has an embedded photo of the highway has so far been retweeted or shared 901 times and marked as ‘favourite,’ the equivalent of ‘like’ by a further 302 followers.

Mr Mutua went on Twitter using the hashtag #MaendeleoChapChap!! to explain that the Makutano ma Mwala to Kithimani road was constructed in a record three months after the county government gave 11 contractors the tender. @DrAlfredMutua said the road had at initially been estimated to cost sh1.6 billon but the county employed cost-cutting measures and sealed corruption loopholes to deliver the project at nearly a third of the projected cost.

A study by Portland Communications released in January 2012 ranked Kenyans are the second most active Twitter users in African after South Africa. Kenya is estimated to have about 3.5 million Twitter users and more than 4.5 million Facebook accounts, most of whom are in the 20 to 35 age bracket and access the sites via mobile phones.

Kenya’s total Internet users has grown more than five-fold in as many years to 21.6 million users or 53.3 per cent of the population as at March this year.

Data from the Communications Authority shows mobile data and Internet services account for 99 per cent of total Internet subscriptions. This means that public administrators such as governors, legislators and MCAs can easily reach and connect with Kenyans who mainly access Internet on the go via smartphones and tablets.

An increasing number of tech-savvy Kenyans are taking to social media forums to ensure leaders deliver on their election pledge promises. And in the spirit of Article 10 of Kenya’s constitution which recognises inclusiveness and public participation as part of national values and principles of governance, why not drop your governor a tweet?

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