Janet Mbugua questions how kenya can rebuild public trust

Media personality Janet Mbugua has questioned how Kenya can rebuild public trust amid growing concerns about public institutions, saying meaningful change will require more than summits and public discussions.

Mbugua raised the concerns after attending the Trust Summit on Thursday, October 22, 2026, admitting that she struggled with the idea of participating in an event focused on rebuilding trust when confidence in institutions remained low.

In a statement accompanying a video shared on Thursday, she likened the experience to attending a dinner about honesty hosted by someone whose credibility was already in question.

“I’ll be honest, I wrestled with it,” Mbugua wrote, acknowledging that many issues remained unresolved but arguing that difficult conversations still needed to take place.

Why Attending the Trust Summit Was Difficult

In the video, Mbugua explained that engaging with institutions accused of undermining public confidence was challenging, particularly at a time when many Kenyans were questioning their credibility.

“The government has broken our trust. Corporations have broken our trust,” she said.

The former journalist said her different roles as a media personality, citizen, mother and advocate ultimately converged in her identity as an ordinary Kenyan concerned about the country’s direction.

She described this shared experience as being a citizen of Kenya, adding that her concerns were not separate from those of other Kenyans.

Mbugua also cited a TIFA poll, which she said indicated that no public institution enjoyed the trust of more than 40 per cent of Kenyans.

The figures prompted her to question whether convening another summit could meaningfully address the longstanding concerns surrounding public institutions.

Mbugua Questions Institutional Accountability

During the summit, Mbugua said her panel heard from representatives of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) about their planned activities ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The discussions included a roadmap for peaceful elections and efforts to bridge the trust gap between institutions and citizens.

However, Mbugua questioned what tangible steps would convince Kenyans that the agencies were committed to addressing the problems undermining public confidence.

“So what would it actually take for you to believe them?” she asked.

She argued that trust could not be restored simply by bringing institutions together for discussions or through collaborations that appeared designed to improve their public image without addressing underlying concerns.

For Mbugua, the central issue was whether institutions were prepared to demonstrate accountability and deliver meaningful change beyond the summit.

Where Rebuilding Public Trust Should Begin

Mbugua said rebuilding confidence would require uncomfortable conversations involving people and institutions with differing perspectives.

While acknowledging that Kenyans were willing to engage in dialogue, she challenged public institutions to approach such conversations with sincerity, consistency and transparency.

She maintained that trust could only be rebuilt through actions that demonstrate accountability rather than promises made during public forums.

“I don’t think trust can be fixed in a summit,” she said, adding that “there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Beyond public institutions, Mbugua encouraged Kenyans to reflect on trust in their personal lives, including their relationships with family members and partners.