NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has reaffirmed the central role of National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) in driving Kenya’s economic and social transformation, telling more than 3,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs that the success of his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) depends heavily on their work at the grassroots.
Speaking at the Embakasi Police College in Nairobi, the President said administrators remain the country’s “first responders” and are the direct link between government and citizens in villages, sub-locations, and remote communities.
“The stability the country continues to enjoy is largely a result of the dedication of NGAOs, the work of security agencies, and the resilience of communities,” he said, adding that no meaningful economic progress can be realised without security, stability, and accountable local leadership.
Ruto emphasised that key government programmes — including agricultural reform, MSME support, digital innovation, affordable housing, primary healthcare, and education — rely on chiefs and assistant chiefs to mobilise communities, dispel misinformation, and ensure equitable access to opportunities.
On agriculture, the President urged officers to promote extension services, ensure timely access to inputs, resolve resource-based conflicts, and safeguard value chains from disruption. He also called for fair distribution of opportunities and accountability in local economic initiatives.
Highlighting progress in youth empowerment, Ruto reported that 12,155 young people have already benefited from more than Sh303 million under the NYOTA programme. Chiefs, he said, play a crucial role in mobilising beneficiaries and supporting cooperative transparency.
Ruto also tasked NGAOs with intensifying public awareness around government reforms, especially in healthcare. He cited efforts to strengthen the Social Health Authority registration campaign, expand primary care networks, enhance medical supply chains, and operationalise facility management committees.
Chiefs, he said, must work closely with community health workers to ensure households are well informed.
On education, the President said administrators must support school feeding programmes, improve learner enrolment and retention, and protect school environments from insecurity and harmful activities.
He further directed chiefs and assistant chiefs to protect public land and ensure that affordable housing projects progress “orderly and free from speculation.”
Throughout his remarks, Ruto stressed that grassroots administration remains the foundation of national cohesion. He urged the officers to continue coordinating closely with security agencies to preserve peace, saying the country’s development trajectory depends on a stable and well-governed local environment.
