NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fully delivering on the promises made to Kenyans, dismissing criticism that his government overpromised during the 2022 election campaign.
Speaking on Thursday at the official opening of the third National Executive Retreat in Karen, Nairobi, Ruto said the Kenya Kwanza administration was elected on a platform of radical transformation and that it remains focused on implementing its reform agenda.
“The accusation I often get is that we overpromised. But I want to tell you, we did not overpromise. We promised what is doable,” the President said.
He emphasised that all government priorities are outlined in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, adding that his goal is to deliver on each commitment and “earn the correct marks” by the end of his term.
“I have no intention whatsoever of escaping the commitments we made. We intend to keep them because that is how we are going to transform Kenya.”
Tackling Tough Decisions Now
Ruto also criticised the culture of political convenience that he said has long delayed necessary reforms in Kenya.
“I’ve had people tell me we’ve picked too many difficult things and should have waited for the second term,” he said. “But why waste the nation’s time? If something can be fixed now, we should fix it. That’s how progress happens.”
He stressed the need to break away from making decisions based on short-term political survival, arguing that long-term national interest must come first.
“We haven’t made progress as a nation because we make decisions not on the basis of what is right, but on how it helps us remain politically relevant.”
The path to transforming our country has been bumpy, demanding and requiring of us to make difficult decisions.Even so, we are proud of those decisions that are now paying dividends. We remain focused as we build synergies that will spur our economic growth.At KCB Leadership
Reviewing Government Performance
The two-day executive retreat brings together Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and other senior government officials to review the performance of various ministries and agencies, and track the implementation of key priorities.
The focus is on assessing the progress of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) — the cornerstone of Ruto’s administration.
BETA targets six key outcomes:
- Lowering the cost of living
- Eliminating hunger
- Creating jobs
- Expanding the tax base
- Improving the foreign exchange balance
- Promoting inclusive economic growth
These are being implemented through strategic investments in five sectors: agriculture, healthcare, micro and small enterprises (MSMEs), the digital and creative economy, and affordable housing.
President Ruto concluded his remarks by urging government officials to remain focused, accountable, and results-oriented, saying the real test of leadership lies in delivering tangible change.
“This is the moment for us to act. Kenya cannot afford another decade of promises without delivery,” he said.
