KITUI, Kenya — President William Ruto has outlined an ambitious blueprint to transform Kenya’s economy over the next decade, unveiling major plans on food production, industrialisation, energy and infrastructure during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui County.
Speaking at Ithookwe Stadium, Ruto said Kenya must “take the next bold step” in its development journey by investing in projects that secure the country’s self-reliance and create millions of jobs.
“We cannot speak of prosperity while spending over Sh500 billion every year importing food,” Ruto said. “This is not just an economic burden — it is a threat to our sovereignty.”
Food security through irrigation
The President announced that his administration will construct 50 mega dams to bring at least 2 million acres under irrigation in the next 10 years — a move aimed at ending overreliance on rain-fed farming.
Ruto said the government’s goal is to make Kenya not only food secure but also a major exporter of agricultural produce.
Industrialisation drive
Ruto also detailed plans to fast-track value addition and manufacturing, saying Kenya must transition “from a country that buys to a country that makes.”
Through the Africa Growth and Industrialisation Initiative (AGII) and a partnership with the Afreximbank, Kenya is establishing Special Economic Zones in Vipingo, Dongo Kundu and Naivasha, alongside County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in all 47 counties.
“Everything Kenya produces must be processed in Kenya — tea as packaged excellence, coffee as premium blends, cotton as fabric and fashion,” he said.
He added that reliable energy will be key to industrialisation, pledging to expand Kenya’s generation capacity from the current 2,300MW to 10,000MW through geothermal, wind, solar and nuclear power.
Massive infrastructure rollout
On infrastructure, Ruto promised to dual over 1,000 kilometres of major highways, including the Rironi–Nakuru–Malaba, Makutano–Embu–Meru, and Mombasa–Nairobi corridors.
He said the government will also construct 10,000 kilometres of new tarmac roads and complete the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba, linking Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC.
“No economy can flourish without world-class infrastructure,” Ruto said. “These investments will connect farmers, traders and manufacturers to markets and power regional integration.”
A vision beyond politics
Ruto said his government will continue engaging leaders across the political divide to ensure Kenya’s progress remains a national and inclusive mission, not a partisan one.
He acknowledged consultations with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, governors and MPs, saying the discussions have informed the next phase of Kenya’s transformation agenda.
“Kenya’s progress must never be a partisan pursuit; it is a shared mission,” Ruto said.
The President briefly honoured the late Raila Odinga, dedicating this year’s Mashujaa Day to his memory and posthumously awarding him the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart, the nation’s highest honour.
