BOMET, Kenya — President William Ruto on Thursday defended his administration’s economic record, saying Kenya is making steady progress despite criticism from opponents and sections of the media.
Speaking during the funeral service of Mzee Edwin Koech, the father of Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, in Kipketii village, Bomet County, the President said his government had delivered measurable gains in agriculture, healthcare, housing, and infrastructure.
President Ruto said attempts to portray the country as stagnating would not erase what he described as tangible improvements in the lives of Kenyans.
“You can have as much debate as you want; you can write as many headlines as you want; you can release as many reports, but the truth will not change,” he said.
The President argued that economic indicators and government programmes showed the country was moving in the right direction.
“We have made a difference in universal health coverage, agriculture, education, and housing, and we are transforming the Republic of Kenya. I want to assure the citizens of this nation that, in our lifetime, Kenya will be a first-world economy,” he added.
President Ruto cited reduced prices of key commodities and expanded public investment as evidence of progress under his administration.
“The truth of the matter is that unga was Sh250, and now it is between Sh120 and Sh140. We had a teachers’ shortage of 116,000; we have employed 100,000. All our roads had stalled; now 6,000km are under construction. Fertiliser was about Sh7,000; today it is Sh2,500,” he said.
He also defended the government’s affordable housing programme, saying it had moved from policy discussions to implementation.
“Our housing policy had never taken off beyond the paper it had been written on; now we have built 240,000 units,” the President said.
The Preident further linked his administration’s agenda to national unity, saying the broad-based government formed with former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga, was aimed at ending ethnic divisions and political exclusion.
“My commitment is to bring all Kenyans, from all ethnicities and regions together, and eliminate tribalism, hate and marginalisation so that we move forward as one people,” he said.
The President used the occasion to announce a series of development projects for the South Rift region. He said he would soon tour Bomet and Kericho counties to launch the construction of modern stadia and hand over completed affordable housing units in Bomet town before unveiling another 2,000 housing units.
He added that construction of airstrips in the two counties was progressing and would be completed soon.
On healthcare reforms, President Ruto praised Bomet residents for embracing the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the county had recorded one of the highest registration rates in the country.
“Hardly 50,000 people in Bomet were registered under the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund. But today, 660,000 people are enrolled under SHA,” he said.
The funeral drew senior government officials and political leaders, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, several Cabinet Secretaries, governors, MPs and clergy.
