President William Ruto on Sunday urged his critics to take stock of what he said were the gains made by his administration over the past four years, citing lower inflation, improved food security and increased infrastructure spending.
Ruto said his government had inherited an economy facing high inflation and heavy debt when he took office, but that economic conditions had since stabilised.
Speaking at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church International in Kisumu, Ruto said inflation had fallen, foreign exchange reserves had strengthened and the government had made progress in settling debts.
He said Kenya now had the sixth-largest economy in Africa.
Ruto said thousands of kilometres of roads were currently under construction after infrastructure projects had stalled under previous administrations.
“Today, we have 6,000 kilometres of roads under construction,” Ruto said, adding that the government had paid Sh 250 billion owed to contractors,” Ruto said.
On agriculture, he said food security had improved and the cost of fertiliser had fallen to Sh 2,000 from Sh 7,000.
He said reforms in the dairy, coffee, sugar and fishing sectors had increased earnings for farmers.
Ruto also highlighted reforms in education and healthcare, saying the government had changed the university funding model and hired about 100,000 teachers since he took office.
On healthcare, he said 33 million Kenyans had registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), compared with about 8 million registered under NHIF.
Ruto also paid tribute to the late former opposition leader Raila Odinga, praising his contribution to Kenya’s development.
He cited the Standard Gauge Railway and housing among projects associated with Odinga’s political legacy.
“Nobody can replace Odinga, but his legacy can be replicated,” Ruto said, describing Odinga as a transformative leader rather than a sectional politician.
Ruto also said his ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) were not competitors but equal partners.
He promised to help the church acquire 50 acres of land for its headquarters.
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