President William Ruto on Monday spoke with confidence — and a hint of defiance — as he insisted that his government is pushing Kenya toward a dramatic economic turnaround, one he says cannot be stopped halfway.
Addressing residents at the Kimalel goat auction in Baringo, the President said Kenya is not experimenting with ideas but following a road already taken by countries that once struggled but later transformed themselves into global success stories, including Singapore and Malaysia.
“We know where we are going,” Ruto said. “Others have walked this path before us, and Kenya will get there too.”
He brushed off criticism that his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda was just political talk, saying it was always meant to guide how his government would run the economy after the elections.
“This was not a slogan for crowds. It was a plan, and we are now putting it into action,” he said.
Ruto pointed to what he described as steady progress across several sectors. In healthcare, he said millions of Kenyans are now accessing treatment through the Social Health Authority, a shift he said is already changing how ordinary families get medical care. In agriculture, the President said food production has improved after the government distributed more than 12 million bags of subsidised fertiliser, adding that preparations for the next planting season are already done.
He also said changes in the education sector are beginning to settle, with the Competency-Based system supported by new classrooms and better learning facilities.
On roads, Ruto announced that Baringo County will receive Sh3.4 billion for road construction, with work expected to start in February. Nationally, he said 178 roads are planned for construction next year.
He acknowledged public frustration with traffic jams, especially along the Rironi–Naivasha road, and promised that the highway will be expanded to eight lanes to ease congestion for travellers, particularly those coming from Western Kenya.
Earlier in the day, while commissioning the Sh1.5 billion Lessos–Kabarnet power line, Ruto said the project would stabilise electricity supply in Baringo and parts of Elgeyo-Marakwet, helping businesses grow and creating jobs for young people. He added that another Sh1.3 billion power connectivity programme is ongoing, with Sh530 million already spent.
Later, speaking during the Tobong’u Lore cultural celebrations in Turkana, the President said Kenya is on track to complete half of its Sh5 trillion development plan by next year. He said the projects will be funded through a National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund, rather than higher taxes or heavy borrowing.
“These are investments meant to secure the country’s future,” Ruto said. “We are building a stronger Kenya for the long term.”
