NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has defended his administration’s economic transformation agenda, saying the government is making steady progress in boosting grassroots trade and laying the foundation for long-term national prosperity.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the President said the government has invested more than Sh4.5 billion in Kiambu County alone to construct 30 modern markets within less than three years, describing the programme as the largest market infrastructure initiative in Kenya’s history.
According to Ruto, the markets are designed to accelerate the growth of small and micro enterprises by providing traders with dignified, secure, and well-equipped trading spaces.
“The journey of transforming Kenya is charging forward at full speed across all our 47 counties,” the President said, citing Kiambu as a model of how targeted public investment can stimulate local economies.
The market construction programme forms part of the government’s broader bottom-up economic approach, which prioritises support for small traders, artisans, farmers, and informal sector workers as key drivers of economic growth.
Ruto linked the initiative to the government’s ambitious Sh5 trillion National Economic Independence Project, which he said is aimed at generating jobs, creating wealth, and positioning Kenya on a sustainable path toward first-world status.
“Our Sh5 trillion National Economic Independence Project will place our economy on a firm footing by generating jobs, creating wealth, and sustainably elevating Kenya to first-world status,” he said.
The President called on Kenyans to support the government’s development agenda, saying collaboration between citizens and the state is critical to realising the country’s economic ambitions.
“Let us work together to make this vision a reality,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political debate over the pace and impact of the government’s economic reforms, with critics questioning the affordability and execution of large-scale development projects.
However, the government maintains that investments in market infrastructure, roads, affordable housing, and enterprise financing are already yielding dividends by lowering the cost of doing business and expanding opportunities for ordinary Kenyans.
In Kiambu County, the new markets are expected to benefit thousands of traders who previously operated in overcrowded or informal spaces, while also improving hygiene, security, and revenue collection for the county governments.
The National Economic Independence Project, unveiled earlier this year, brings together multiple flagship programmes spanning manufacturing, agriculture, housing, infrastructure, and digital innovation.
The government argues that the initiative will reduce reliance on debt by expanding domestic production and value addition.
As the administration approaches the midpoint of its first term, President Ruto has increasingly used public forums and social media to highlight development milestones, framing them as evidence that his economic model is delivering tangible results at the community level.
