Homa Bay, Kenya – In a rousing and comprehensive Madaraka Day speech delivered from the lakeside county of Homa Bay, President William Ruto laid out his administration’s sweeping achievements and forward-looking vision rooted in Kenya’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda. Celebrating 62 years of self-rule, President Ruto spoke of a Kenya rising from the ashes of historical neglect, underdevelopment, and socio-economic exclusion.
President Ruto emphasized that while the nation has made substantial strides, much remains to be done. He called upon Kenyans to believe in themselves and the nation’s potential, asserting that only Kenyans can build the future they deserve. “This country is our home and we have no other,” he declared. He further underscored the importance of self-belief, determination, and unity, stating that Kenya’s destiny lies squarely in the hands of its citizens.
Economic Stabilization and Growth
The President highlighted his government’s efforts in stabilizing and reviving the economy. Since August 2022, Kenya has recorded an average annual growth of 5%, outperforming the global average of 3.3% and the regional average of 3.8%. According to the International Monetary Fund, Kenya’s GDP is projected to hit USD 132 billion, making it the largest economy in the region and the sixth in Africa.
He touted the sharp drop in inflation from 9.6% in October 2022 to 3.8% in May 2024, the strengthening of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar from KES 162 to KES 129, and the reduction of the Central Bank Rate from 13% to 10%. Foreign exchange reserves have risen to $10 billion, extending import cover from 2.5 to 4 months, bringing much-needed relief to households and businesses.
Affordable Housing Revolution
President Ruto celebrated the Affordable Housing Program as a cornerstone of his administration’s success. With over 11,000 units completed and 150,000 under construction since September 2022, the initiative is reshaping lives across the country. Ruto shared emotional stories of individuals who moved from informal settlements to modern housing with clean water, electricity, and clean cooking gas. These transformations, he said, symbolize the kind of change his administration is committed to.
He announced a proposed law allowing contributors to the Housing Levy to access affordable home loans of up to KES 5 million at single-digit interest rates. These reforms aim to ease mortgage burdens and increase home ownership across all sectors of society. Ruto emphasized that every shilling contributed to the housing levy would work directly for the contributor—through home access, loans, or mortgage relief.
Universal Health Coverage and Social Health Authority
Since the launch of TAIFA Care in October 2024, 23 million Kenyans have registered under the new Social Health Authority (SHA). The system has already disbursed KES 43 billion in claims, covering 4.5 million patients. For the first time in Kenya’s history, emergency services are now free in all government and SHA-contracted health facilities, funded by the Emergency Critical and Chronic Illness Fund.
Ruto highlighted how the SHA model is inclusive, particularly for informal sector workers who were previously excluded from health coverage. Programs like Lipa SHA Polepole allow citizens to pay contributions in manageable installments—daily, weekly, or monthly—ensuring uninterrupted health coverage for all.
Under the National Equipment Supply Program, hospitals now receive critical medical equipment based on local needs, with service payments made on a fee-for-service basis to ensure efficiency and accountability. This system, Ruto noted, replaces the mismanaged and expensive equipment leasing model of the past.
Revitalization of Agriculture
The President underscored dramatic gains in agriculture through subsidies, policy reforms, and direct investments. Fertilizer subsidies have increased food production by 50%, while reforms in the coffee and sugar sectors have revitalized local industries and improved farmer incomes.
Tea earnings rose from KES 138 billion in 2022 to KES 215 billion in 2024. Sugar production surged from 490,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 815,000 metric tonnes in 2024, reducing Kenya’s reliance on sugar imports by 70%. Meanwhile, milk farmers now earn KES 50 per liter, up from KES 35, and coffee growers have seen their earnings more than double from KES 65 to KES 150 per kilo.
To further support sugarcane farmers, the government has leased state-owned sugar mills—Nzoya, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni—to private operators. These leases come with strict oversight and are aimed at increasing efficiency, ensuring timely payments to farmers, and ending decades of underperformance.
Education Reform and Infrastructure
Ruto revealed the most comprehensive education reforms in over six decades. Kenya has successfully transitioned to a competency-based curriculum (CBC), moving away from rote memorization to a system that emphasizes skills, innovation, and critical thinking. The government has recruited 76,000 new teachers over two years and plans to hire 24,000 more by January 2025.
To support this transition, 23,000 new classrooms have been built to reduce overcrowding. A new student-centered funding model now ensures up to 90% scholarship coverage for learners from poor families in universities and TVET institutions. Enrolment in technical training colleges is expected to grow fourfold—from 500,000 in 2023 to over 2 million in 2024.
Youth Empowerment and Job Creation
Through the Hassler Fund, the government has issued KES 70 billion in microloans to over 25 million borrowers, promoting a culture of saving and financial inclusion. Over 4.5 million Kenyans have now built strong credit profiles, enabling them to qualify for larger, collateral-free loans of up to KES 150,000.
The National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project, supported by the World Bank, aims to empower 800,000 youth through skills training, on-the-job experience, and entrepreneurship. KES 5 billion in grants has been allocated, and each beneficiary will receive up to KES 50,000 in seed capital. The initiative has already attracted over 1 million applicants.
Climate Works and the Blue Economy
The President also launched a nationwide expansion of Climate Works, a social protection initiative that will engage over 110,000 youth in climate-resilient infrastructure projects, including road construction, afforestation, and waste management.
On the blue economy front, Ruto emphasized Kenya’s immense maritime potential. Investments in modern fisheries infrastructure include the development of the Kabonyo Fisheries Training Centre, the Sagana Aquaculture Hub, and the Shimoni Mariculture Center. These facilities aim to produce over 7 million fingerlings quarterly and train the next generation of aquaculture professionals.
Landing sites and modern fish markets are under construction across Lake Victoria and Kenya’s coastal counties. The government expects these efforts to create 200,000 jobs and increase the blue economy’s contribution from 0.6% to at least KES 400 billion.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
In under three years, Kenya has constructed 1,800 kilometers of new tarmac roads and maintained 134,000 kilometers. Major infrastructure projects include the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba, and the upcoming dual carriageway between Rironi and Malaba.
These initiatives are expected to unlock markets, enhance regional trade, and reduce transportation costs across Kenya and East Africa.
National Unity and Forward Vision
In conclusion, President Ruto called on Kenyans to remain united, courageous, and determined. He reiterated that real change requires discipline, boldness, and a long-term vision. The transformation underway, he said, is not just political rhetoric, but a lived reality for millions.https://shorturl.at/nX7jd
Ruto thanked opposition leader Raila Odinga for his spirit of cooperation, signaling a new chapter in Kenya’s political inclusivity. He praised all citizens for their contributions—whether through the housing levy, health reforms, or community engagement—and encouraged continued collective action.
“Let us never be a nation that stopped believing,” Ruto declared. “Let us build a Kenya where hope and opportunity are a right for all.”
As Madaraka Day celebrations closed in Homa Bay, the message was clear: Kenya is on the move—driven by purpose, energized by vision, and united in hope.https://touchdigitalnews.com/ruto-continues-with-the-migori-tour-after-being-hit-with-a-shoe/
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