Government bodies have been directed to advertise on digital platforms and shun spending money on private television and newspapers.

While opening a new government portal, MyGov.go.ke, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that public institutions should be using local innovations in their processes.

He urged all public entities to use the web portal in advertising rather than spend billions on "private media".

"Why do we have to look for other solutions while we have our own," President Kenyatta said.

"We look to ICT to transform the way we do things in all sectors. Innovation will continue to transform service delivery in agriculture and food production, transportation, health, education, security, fiscal and financial management, justice, law and order among other sectors," he said.

This is not the first time the president has advocated that government use digital avenues to advertise. In July 2014 the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) accused the government of aiming to starve local media stations of revenue.

"Already, mainstream media houses no longer carry heavy investigative stories against government. They are playing apologists for government's poor show against public expectations," read a statement from Cofek.

At the time the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Technology, Fred Matiang'i said that this move will help the government save on expenditure, from KSh 2.8 billion ($30 million) to KSh 1 billion ($11million).

It is yet to be seen how this will affect the local media stations, which rely heavily on government for advertising.

The new portal will give the public news on government development, government tenders and the important events around the country.

The portal was launched during the recently concluded National Innovation Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.