Inside President Ruto’s 1 Hour, 52-Page, 5,863-Word State Of The Nation Speech
Standing before this esteemed assembly of democratically elected representatives of the Kenyan people, I am here to fulfill the constitutional obligations as stipulated in Article 132(1)(c).
The occasion necessitates that I provide an account to the Kenyan people regarding the actions undertaken by their government during my tenure as their leader. Additionally, I must effectively implement the National Values and Principles of Governance as outlined in Article 10.2 to fully embody and enforce the essence of our constitutional dispensation.
An extensive report has been compiled detailing the advancements achieved in the observance of this solemn covenant, as well as the commencement of the transformative process in Kenya that will benefit both current and future generations.
Furthermore, from the grassroots to the capital, numerous sectors of national endeavor have begun to experience the positive outcomes of this initiative.
Upon assuming office on September 13, 2022, I pledged to expedite the restructuring of our economy and halt and reverse the detrimental patterns of extreme poverty, deplorable inequality, and rampant unemployment that were depriving Kenyans of their dignity and stifling their aspirations.
The widespread acceptance of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda can be largely attributed to the fact that its conception, articulation, content, and implementation strategy reflected the practical application of our nation’s values. It was committed to social justice and the preservation of the marginalized, in addition to being democratic and inclusive.
Our dedication to operationalizing the national values and guiding principles of governance to substantially improve the welfare of each person and advance the cohesion, security, stability, and progress of our nation commenced well in advance of the previous election and will persist for the duration of our term.
I have consistently endeavored to fulfill all the obligations outlined in the Plan, and notwithstanding the formidable obstacles and challenges that have arisen, we have achieved noteworthy advancements in a constructive trajectory. Our philosophy of inclusive transformation towards shared prosperity has been not only validated by this but our assurance that we are progressing in the correct direction and will eventually achieve a complete transformation of our nation has also been bolstered.
It is imperative to emphasize that the execution of our mandate to comprehensively revamp Kenya’s economy started amidst exceedingly challenging conditions. This is not to absolve ourselves of responsibility or rationalize our incapability or neglect to perform the requisite tasks.
Instead, we intend to highlight the importance of our advancements, thereby emphasizing the potential for change despite formidable obstacles and expressing firmly grounded assurance that once adequate progress is achieved, we will be able to accomplish even more and travel further in our pursuit of creating the Kenya that we envision for future generations.
We identified in our plan three primary obstacles—external disruptions, fiscal distress, and structural imbalances—that placed a tremendous strain on our economy and caused problems on a national scale.
In addition to geopolitical conflicts and disruptions in the global supply chain, the COVID-19 pandemic substantially increased inflation and interest rates, which hurt our economy. Food shortages ensued as a result of inadequate agricultural investment and an extended drought, which positioned Kenya as a net importer of food in a volatile international market.
The people of Kenya entrusted us with the dual objectives of devising viable solutions to pressing issues, establishing a trustworthy trajectory towards medium-term stability, and implementing a sustainable structural overhaul of our economy. Throughout this endeavor, we endeavored to consider the concerns and aspirations of Kenyans residing at the base of the socioeconomic hierarchy.
At every opportunity, the Kenyan people have expressed that the transformation of our economy is not only vital but also desirable and significant. It is incumbent upon us as leaders to attentively attend and acquiesce to the people’s desires.
Kenyan citizens desire a paradigm shift and require a fresh dialogue that prioritizes the security, well-being, interests, and aspirations of Mama Mboga in all discussions regarding governance and policy.
Fundamental rights and citizen liberties are the foundation of enterprise and democracy. Consequently, our system of governance must be purpose-built: capable of ensuring the safety of individuals and their property, preserving liberty, fostering democratic processes, and advancing market effectiveness. To accomplish this, law enforcement must be strong, judicial independence, efficiency, and integrity must be absolute, and the right to legal protection must be impartial and non-negotiable. Therefore, it is imperative that our police force, along with all other entities comprising the chain of justice, law, and order, including the judiciary, operate in a professional, impartial, and effective manner that is guided by national values and principles of governance.
As per our commitment to the Kenyan people, significant instruments were affixed to my signature on my inaugural day in office. The measures implemented included the implementation of the Judicial Service Commission’s recommendation to delay the appointment of six judges to the Court of Appeal, an increase of KSh3 billion in funding to the Judiciary, the designation of the Inspector-General as the accounting officer of the National Police Service to promote independence, and the subsequent formation of a task force headed by former Chief Justice David Maraga to examine the terms and conditions of service for National Police Service personnel.
Collectively with the Kenyan people, we have brought about a complete transformation. We have shifted the discourse on national politics from personal attacks to substantive matters, opportunities for our youth and hustlers from regional or ethnic ostentation to bottom-up economic transformation for shared prosperity, and from division to inclusion.
At present, Kenyan citizens maintain a steadfast commitment to the following objectives: increasing agricultural productivity to combat the rising cost of living, providing affordable housing to foster employment and dignified habitation, ensuring universal health coverage for a healthy and productive populace, implementing digital transformation to generate employment opportunities, ensuring efficient and effective access to government services and resources, supporting the HustlerFund, and exercising prudent management of national resources.
Through the internal consistency of our constitutional system, fundamental directive precepts are established by national values and principles of governance. The observance of these precepts confers an implicit constitutionality in every decision and action. The implementation of the bottom-up economic transformation agenda is a program to accelerate the realization of national values, with a particular emphasis on citizens residing at the base of the economic pyramid, to the extent that our strategy is consistent with Article 43.
Despite numerous obstacles, we have labored diligently each day since our inauguration to advance our agenda and pave the way for progress. That is the fundamental nature of our dedication: To advance by surmounting formidable barriers and cultivating progress in the face of adversity. Our fate cannot be diverted by our difficulties, and we must never allow our problems to define us.
The cost of living is not a purely theoretical concept. Every household is confronted with this reality, which can be mitigated by implementing practical and efficient measures. An intervention that stands out as a significant measure in combating the exorbitant cost of living is the approach of bolstering agricultural production across the value chains of food, cash commodities, and livestock.
Without exception, I am resolved to eradicate the disgrace associated with starvation. A fertilizer subsidy and nationwide farmer registration initiative were implemented, resulting in the provision of 5.5 million sacks to farmers throughout Kenya. A gradual reduction in fertilizer costs from KSh6,500 to KSh2,500 has been implemented, resulting in an additional 200,000 acres of maize acreage under cultivation and an increase of 18 million sacks of maize produced.
Due to these interventions, the current retail price of a 2kg packet of maize flour has decreased from KSh250 to between KSh145 and KSh175 (brand dependent). A kilogram of gorogoro, or maize, is priced at a range of KSh60 to KSh75.18. Furthermore, we have successfully established 22 additional fish landing sites in nine countries, including the Nyanza and Coast regions. We have also organized and funded the funding of management units into cooperatives, established two hatcheries in Kabonyo and Shimoni, and aim to finish the fish processing plant and Shimoni fishport by the end of next month and December, respectively.
To enhance fertilizer distribution efficiency, transparency, and precision, farmers were registered on a digital registry, providing precise information regarding the location and area of their agricultural property. Farmers were able to receive their fertilizer shipments via an electronic voucher system made possible by this database. The aforementioned commodities included maize, coffee, tea, potatoes, cotton, and edible oil.
Our producers are the most qualified individuals to comment on the fertilizer program’s success. I spoke with numerous producers from various regions of the country yesterday. Single mother Ms. Alice Nato of Bungoma informed me that the application of KSh2,500 fertilizer resulted in a twofold increase in maize production, from 52 bags last year to 120 bags this year on her farm.
Mr. Albert Munyi, an additional farmer, expressed gratitude for the fertilizer subsidy’s positive influence on his farm and requested that I devise a method for delivering the fertilizer in closer proximity to the farmers, as opposed to the NCPB depots. I provided him with the assurance that I would collaborate with the governor to implement his proposal (22). However, it was Mr. Samuel Chacha from Kuria who used a memorable phrase to graphically depict the nationwide transformation that the fertilizer subsidy has brought about on farms. He addressed me directly, saying, “Mr. President, shamba yangu inametameta.”
Additionally, we have implemented suitable measures, such as allocating funds towards essential infrastructure, to streamline post-harvest operations and mitigate potential losses. A total of seventeen certified warehouses have been established in the maize-growing regions. These warehouses are jointly administered by the National Cereals and Produce Board and private sector owners. Collectively, they can store 365,000 MT, which is equivalent to four million 90kg bags.
Farmers shall receive a subsidized maize dehydrating service from the NCPB at a fixed cost of KSh70 per bag, an increase from the previous rate of KSh350 per bag by a substantial margin. The first shipment of one hundred mobile dryers intended for our farmers arrived in the country yesterday (25). Moreover, we are augmenting dairy productivity to improve the returns for farmers. By mapping the nation in collaboration with milk processors, the government ensures that refrigerators are delivered to areas that require them. Farmers will soon be compensated according to the quality of their milk, which will increase their income and grant them access to global markets.
Our coffee sector reforms are yielding fruit, as our farmers are now projected to receive KSh80 advance payment for their crop, up from KSh20 previously, as a result of KSh4 billion allocated from the Coffee Cherry Fund. The implementation of coffee reform regulations will afford producers the essential influence and representation at the Nairobi Coffee Auction. It is anticipated that ongoing initiatives, such as expanding coffee production to additional countries and doubling output within the next four years, will be aided by these measures.
Before the expiration of the COMESAsugar safeguards, the government is reorganizing public sugar mills and accelerating the leasing of five companies for rehabilitation and expansion to increase industry competitiveness.
Creating a competitive sector, increasing farmer incomes, and boosting productivity are all components of the objective. Non-performing debt amounting to KSh117 billion that is possessed by the government has also been waived.
From Financial Inclusion to Fiscal Reform.
As previously stated, the productive sector had been displaced from the financial markets by our public borrowing for quite some time, which increased the cost of credit and slowed trade and commerce.
As I informed the Kenyan people on my inaugural day in office, the times were bleak, a great number of individuals were struggling, and immediate, effective, and sustainable solutions were required. Undoubtedly, our nation had been living extravagantly and considerably beyond its financial means.
Hence, it is now appropriate to discontinue the deceptive advantages and empty benefits of extravagant spending and unproductive subsidies on consumption, which have only served to further ensnare us in avoidable debt.
While the transition to the new trajectory may present challenges, it is above all else ethical, responsible, prudent, and essential. We have encountered challenging and distressing decisions due to our moral obligation to Kenyan citizens to act ethically and directly confront the facts without hesitation or ambiguity.
A broad coalition of bilateral development partners, multilateral development banks, and other agencies has been galvanized to pull our nation back from the precipice of debt distress and set us firmly on the path to sustainable economic growth through our diligent efforts both domestically and internationally.
Our endeavors to achieve stability have resulted in significant advancements, to the extent that we will be capable of resolving the initial $300 million installments of the Eurobond debt due the following year in December, the following month. It is now possible to assert with certainty that the debt that has emerged as a major concern for stakeholders, markets, and citizens will be repaid.
In addition, I am pleased to inform the nation that our deliberate, ongoing, and consistent endeavors, both domestically and internationally, have facilitated the restoration of our relations with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank, and other development allies to the degree that they are presently collaborating with us in the execution of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation strategy.
As previously stated, the productive sector, including Mama Mboga, had been displaced from the financial markets for an extended period due to public borrowing, which increased the cost of credit and slowed trade and commerce, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. As a result, numerous enterprises were referred to the credit reference bureau (CRB), which maintained a blacklist of 7 million borrowers.
Our commitment was to furnish small business proprietors with accessible and affordable credit, as well as to reinstate them in good standing with credit rating agencies.
The Hustler Fund, which was established on November 30, 2022, is a purposeful and targeted strategic financial inclusion fund that promotes savings and affordable credit for small businesses and individuals.
The reception of the Hustler Fund from the general public has surpassed the majority of initial forecasts and even taken adamant skeptics by surprise. The Fund had disbursed KSh36.6 billion as of the end of the previous month, comprised of KSh2.3 billion in savings and 7.5 million recurrent borrowers with an impressive 73% overall repayment rate.
Thus far, the fund’s highest borrower has obtained a cumulative sum of KSh4.5 million through 816 transactions, whereas the highest voluntary saver has accumulated KSh631,491.38. During the interim, the Hustler Fund introduced a group product that garnered the attention of 50,000 active groups on the platform; of these, 20,000 have been granted KSh151 million.
The Hustler Fund has demonstrated to us not only the substantial latent demand for affordable credit but also the Kenyan populace’s readiness to adopt credit and savings, as well as their promptness in repaying loans. The claim that Kenyans are not high-risk consumers or creditworthy is merely an instance of unjust financial profiling that has, in numerous cases, become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Yesterday, during my conversation with Harrison Karisa Kengai, a Tuk Tukoperator residing in Mombasa who has obtained 714,000 from the theHustler Fund, he proposed that we devise a method by which the Fund could furnish asset financing, thereby enabling him to utilize his Tuk Tuk for the aforementioned credit. I reassured him that I would request a response from the relevant ministry during my address today. Therefore, I hereby issue the following directive to the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs: Immediately involve Mr. Kengai.
An account of the Hustler Fund’s influence can be found in the life of Mr. Sospheter Ondiek, a native of Kisii. Seek his participation in the Kenyan film industry so he can narrate his life’s journey. Mr. Ondiek, who operates a plumbing and tiling company in Kisii, has obtained a cumulative sum of 1.7 million from the Hustler fund through his diverse business dealings.
Savings
Basic reforms are currently being implemented in the domains of savings and social security to improve our savings, which have historically ranked among the lowest in the world, and to rectify the protracted transformation of our social security infrastructure.
We have fulfilled our commitment to implement intentional strategies aimed at cultivating a robust saving culture among the Kenyan populace, empowering them to pool resources for investment purposes and the advancement of intergenerational capital, eradicating destitution in old age, and guaranteeing a comfortable retirement. Until recently, the public pension savings rate in Kenya was the lowest in our region at 12.5 percent of GDP or KSh1.4 billion per month.
Kenya is experiencing an improvement in its savings situation as a direct consequence of our initial interventions. The monthly amount contributed to the National Social Security Fund has increased to KSh6.5 billion.
The expansion of our country’s reserves will substantially strengthen our nation’s capacity to finance development initiatives through financing from the domestic pension industry.
Delivering Affordable Housing
A significant proportion of the Kenyan population resides in rural areas, although a considerable number face land and settlement obstacles, such as perpetual squatter issues, insecure land tenure, and landlessness. Acute housing challenges are predominantly observed in urban areas and pose a significant risk to the well-being, security, and dignity of individuals, especially those with low incomes.
The proliferation of settlements in urban regions serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of this issue and the critical nature of its resolution; it must be attended to immediately so that Kenyans may have more affordable options for living dignified, secure, and healthy lives.
In Kenya, where the supply of affordable housing is severe, rent accounts for a substantial portion of the cost of living for many households. The augmentation of affordable housing units represents a calculated maneuver aimed at reducing the cost of living while simultaneously ensuring that Kenyans have access to comfortable residences.
This program will provide housing in three distinct categories: social, affordable, and market rate. Financing interest rates for the acquisition of the numerous units will be in the single digits. The interest rate structure for social housing is set at 3 percent, affordable housing at 6 percent, and the market rate category at 9 percent.
The county governments of Kenya have provided tremendous support for the affordable housing program, and I appreciate the governors’ collaboration.
Already under construction are 46,792 units in various regions of the country; an additional 40,000 units are prepared to be built. 50,000 formerly unemployed Kenyans are presently employed in this enterprise, both directly and indirectly; this number will increase substantially as the initiatives enter their subsequent phases. There are 746,795 housing units in the pipeline, which are currently being delivered in various stages.
With the formalization of the JuaKali communities, which manufacture products such as doors, hinges, and windows, more employment opportunities have emerged. This revolutionary initiative will involve hardware retailers, transporters, steel and cement factory employees, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, masons, electricians, and plumbers.
Additionally, 400 markets are being developed throughout Kenya to furnish Mama Mboga with a respectable working environment, including utilities such as water and electricity.
Transforming Education
To achieve our objective of economically transforming Kenya, our education system must cultivate a substantial reservoir of skill, talent, and human capital that is both highly competitive and innovative.
Prof. Raphael Munavu presided over the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, which I appointed within weeks of assuming office to elucidate the transition to the new competency-based curriculum and provide additional recommendations on essential reforms for our early childhood through tertiary education systems.
The recommendations of the report that the working group concluded and submitted have already been implemented. The resolution of the pressing and contentious issue regarding the progression to junior school has been reached, and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment shall be utilized solely to track student development and not for grade placement.
Consistent with our dedication, a total of 56,750 additional educators have been hired, accompanied by the retraining of 8,200 primary school instructors to furnish them with the necessary skills to proficiently impart knowledge and instruction at the junior school level.
The number of candidates admitted to teacher training colleges has increased by 300 percent as a result of modifications to the entry requirements.
Regarding tertiary education, the working party suggested that the current education funding framework be revised to incorporate a scholarship and loan model. This adjustment would be made to close the financing gaps that prevented numerous young Kenyans from enrolling in tertiary institutions such as universities and TVET colleges, impeded the financial capabilities of institutions of higher learning, and impacted their training capabilities.
The prioritization of student-centeredness and the utilization of an unbiased means testing instrument to determine the extent of need—the determining factor in the distribution of scholarships and loans—are hallmarks of the new financial support model.
To achieve comprehensive democratization of our education system and ensure equitable access to higher education, the Open University of Kenya has been established after receiving the necessary approvals from the Cabinet and parliament.
Universal Healthcare
Chronic was determined, through consultations with Kenyans from all walks of life during the development of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the critical role of healthcare expenditures in exacerbating poverty and its fundamental contribution to the well-being of the populace. The consequences are abundantly apparent, and we can no longer afford to postpone the implementation of universal healthcare.
As a result, significant reforms have been implemented in the healthcare sector of Kenya, which encompass the enactment of four novel laws that will serve as the foundation for the execution of this grassroots approach to healthcare. The enactment of the Primary Healthcare Act, the new bottom-up approachurance Act, the Digital Health Act, and the Facility Improvement Financing Act is for which I am extremely grateful to this august Parliament.
These legislations will establish and ensure a fresh era in healthcare provision, encompassing all vital services including preventive, promotional, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative care. They will guarantee that all Kenyan citizens have equal access to comprehensive and high-quality medical attention.
To increase the availability of human capital in our public health sector, we have increased our investment in the healthcare workforce under the leadership of Afya Nyumbani by hiring 20,000 new healthcare workers, deploying 8,429 workers whose contracts had expired, and enrolling 3,394 interns nationwide.
Collaborating with county governments, we have implemented strategies to address the enduring difficulty of human resources management in the health sector through the formation of the KenyaHealth Human Resources Advisory Council. This council serves as a reliable intermediary between the government and health sector personnel.
Furthermore, by the Afya Nyumbani model, preventive care was recognized as a critical cornerstone of healthcare provision as it empowers Kenyans to proactively address their ailments before they escalate into significant detrimental effects on their health, productivity, and overall well-being. Community health promotion is an initiative that we employ to deliver preventive and promotional health solutions at the local level. This is achieved through the deployment of community health promoters who visit the residences of Kenyan citizens and offer fundamental common health concerns, including referrals to suitable medical facilities.
To visit each of the 47 counties, one hundred thousand community health promoters have been dispatched with every essential tool and electronic community health information system. CHPs have attended to 1.2 million households over the past month.
Mr. Masud Diriye, a community health promoter in Garissa, informed me over the phone that he has volunteered for CommunityHealth since 2011. He has utilized his newly acquired medical kit to affirm that seven individuals in his area of operation had hypertension, in contrast to his previous state. By chance, he conducted a self-test and ascertained that he, too, suffered from hypertension.
According to Mr. Obembi Ogutu of Homabay, the program is a paperless approach to primary healthcare, and it has already begun to shorten hospital lines.
A framework has been established under the Facility Improvement Financing Act of 2023 to grant financial autonomy to health facilities. This autonomy allows these facilities to retain funds that are generated to enhance their capacity to deliver healthcare services.
In addition, as part of numerous radical reforms, the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) will now implement ICT to manage the supply chains of essential health products and commodities. Due to this performance, KEMSA has increased its inventory rate from 40% of its supply to approximately 60% over the past five months, with an additional target of 80% by March of the following year.
Digitization of Government
It is becoming increasingly evident that without ICT, it is impossible to provide services to the millions of Kenyans residing throughout the country in a manner that is characterized by efficiency, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Digital technologies have revolutionized service delivery, governance enhancements, and the acceleration of economic efficiency in every sector, including education, agriculture, health, and financial inclusion.
We have initiated the implementation of transformative last-mile fiber-optic connectivity across the nation to provide lightning-fast Internet. Additionally, we have established 1,450 ICT nodes in each ward and 25,000 complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots in all market centers.
The digital provision of public services has been extended to include 13,000 services, and we are fully committed to achieving complete digitization by the conclusion of the following month. Implementing measures to improve the integrity and effectiveness of government service delivery has significantly contributed to the enhancement of revenue collection. We launched the local assembly of affordable handsets in Athi River last week in collaboration with the private sector.
In addition to improving service delivery and citizen satisfaction, digitization and automation in government ministries, departments, and agencies reduce opportunities for corruption and ensure greater accuracy, transparency, and accountability. Corruption, waste, and negligence pose grave threats to our transformation agenda, and such departments and organizations have no place in our country.
Severe threats in Kenya have my unequivocal guarantee that instances of misconduct and corruption will be promptly, decisively, and mercilessly prosecuted.
I request that the Assets Declaration and Conflict of Interest Bill be finalized by Parliament to further rigor our anti-corruption policy framework and eradicate any room for dishonesty.
Securing Transformation.
Ensuring the security and safety of every citizen is our utmost priority and fundamental duty; it is the foundation upon which all other undertakings stand.
Kenya’s sustained progress can be attributed to our efforts to preserve stability, security, and peace through the reaffirmation of our territorial integrity and the preservation of internal tranquility.
Notwithstanding this, our nation has encountered its fair share of security challenges. In the face of the enduring menace that is terrorism, we must maintain unwavering vigilance. Areas besieged and devastated by pockets of banditry, security challenges, and armed lawlessness are the Rift Valley, North-Eastern, and, on occasion, portions of the Eastern and Coast regions.
It is common knowledge that it destroys livelihoods and lives. This issue has claimed the lives of an excessive number of citizens in our nation. Numerous families have been displaced and children have been left bereft and unable to attend school as a result of lawless men arming themselves and waging war against communities.
Opponents of our sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, and public safety shall be swiftly countered and permanently exonerated; such is the function of the government.
In response, stringent and resolute actions have been implemented throughout the nation to combat banditry, armed crime, cattle smuggling, and other manifestations of impunity.
Since our effective security operation to reinstate order in the North Rift, our approach has been methodical, targeted, comprehensive, persistent, and steadfast in our determination to eradicate permanently all risks to the lives and means of subsistence of the Kenyan people.
We have been cautious, in carrying out this obligation, not to exploit security imperatives to commit impunity—including the misuse of resources and extrajudicial violations of citizens’ freedoms and fundamental human rights.
We prioritize the provision of security as a public service, safeguarding the interests of law-abiding citizens and serving as an impetus for economic development. As a result, our security services have adhered to a community-based, rights-oriented, citizen-centric, and inclusive security strategy.
Hence, it is indisputable that the efficient provision of security services and the preservation of human rights and fundamental freedoms do not contradict one another. Consequently, we must exist between the two, while remaining democratic and free.
We have reached a consensus to strengthen our collective human coalition by increasing participation in the National Youth Service (NYS) as an organization dedicated to resolving issues at the base of the pyramid, thereby promoting diversity and inclusion.
As a result, registration for the service will increase by twofold to 40,000 beginning next year. Furthermore, the recruitment process has been mandated by the agency to ensure that each village, center, town, and city in Kenya is adequately represented.
To solidify this claim, we have issued a directive stipulating that 80% of forthcoming enlistments in all national security services shall be comprised of exceptionally skilled, dedicated, and well-educated young individuals who have completed their training at NYS.
The Regional and Global Role
As a dependable pillar of security, peace, and stability in our region, Kenya is consistently compelled to fulfill its responsibility of care.
We persist in responding to our historical, moral, and strategic obligations to demonstrate our solidarity with our stable region and to articulate our strategic concerns regarding the imminent collar that we shared with our stern DRC. This collar, which had significant ramifications for the broader East African area, prompted us to mobilize our troops under the auspices of the East Africa Community Regional Force.
We have maintained our position as the mission’s linchpin in Somalia against Al Shabaab on behalf of the African Union Transition Mission. Kenya is once more indebted to the Kenya Defence Forces. in opposition to Alr’s steadfast stance that Sudan can only be secured by a democratically accountable mission that is attuned to and responsive to the country’s heterogeneous composition. Considering the intricate interconnections within the region, the diverse composition of the Jeddah process, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region is in an optimal position to effectively facilitate peace in Sudan. In collaboration with the United States and Saudi Arabia, we have employed the Jeddah process to establish a framework that ensures successful peace in Sudan.
International Obligations
Our economy is inextricably linked to delivery on a continental, regional, and international scale. Similarly, our stability and security are intertwined with those of our neighboring states.
Kenya possesses a fundamental, essential, legitimate, and unambiguous interest in engaging in robust diplomacy via bilateral and multilateral engagements. Over the past twelve months, Kenya’s leadership and the multilateral arena have consistently enabled us to fulfill our diplomatic obligations. Kenya has both organized and taken part in high-level summits, which serves to emphasize this point.
With the presence of more than thirty heads of state and government and more than thirty thousand delegates from around the world, Kenya hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, the 5th MidYear Coordination meeting of the African Union and the regional economic Communities, and the first-ever African edition of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference.
Efforts have been purposefully undertaken by the government to exploit the tremendous potential of Kenyans residing abroad. I instituted the State Department of Diaspora within the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to enable their complete engagement in national affairs.
I have made a solemn pledge to engage in cooperative, consultative, and collective efforts with the counties and the entire Kenyan population to safeguard our esteemed national values, which include but are not limited to human dignity, fairness, social justice, integrity, transparency, accountability, and good governance. I urge all distinguished members, and Kenyans at large, to adopt a receptive stance concerning national strategic interests and to capitalize on our abundant heritage.
Our nation prides itself on its ability to generate innovative and audacious resolutions to challenges and threats, devise creative plans to prevent harm and forge fresh routes to triumph over adversity.
Undoubtedly, our country has encountered tremendous pressure as a result of electoral discord and political misunderstandings stemming from our robust democracy. Such pressure can undermine our economy and disrupt lives and means of subsistence.
Kenyan citizens consistently demonstrate the fortitude and political ingenuity necessary to engage in dialogue across political lines in the name of benevolence, fraternity, and a dedication to the nation’s welfare and interests.
It is imperative to acknowledge the continuous bipartisan national dialogue process, which has facilitated the establishment of consensus among our leaders on numerous critical matters whose resolution will expedite our societal revolution, fortify our democratic system, and solidify national cohesion.
I applaud the valor and nationalistic spirit exhibited by my fellow leaders who have embraced the cause of national dialogue and urged us to all persist in the honorable endeavor of uniting the people of Kenya.
We have accomplished a great deal, and in my address, I merely provided a synopsis of the most notable instances of transformational progress that should inspire the people of Kenya and contribute to our overall transformation.
It is my pleasure to present the Speakers of the Houses of Parliament with the complete versions of the following three reports: the 10th Annual Report on the State of National Security; the 10th Annual Report on Measures Taken and Progress Made in the Realization of National Values and Principles and Governance; and the 10th Annual Report on Progress Made in Fulfilling the International Obligations of the Republic of Kenya.
With deepest sincerity, I will concede that a substantial portion of the accomplishments we have attained in implementing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda were attributable to the solidarity and patriotic support of Senate and National Assembly members of Parliament.
In this bipartisan era, when dialogue, consensus, collaboration, and partnership are striving for dissent, contention, conflict, and disarray as the opa bipartisan principles of political discourse, we are privileged to be undertaking this historic endeavor of radical transformation.
In addition to being a democratic imperative and a means to address disorderly changes, issue-oriented partnerships are the most efficient means of galvanizing diversity for the benefit of the nation as a whole.
Amidst global efforts to undermine democratic principles and effective means to uphold human dignity, freedom continues to reign supreme in our country and our democracy continues to strengthen and expand. Furthermore, the united determination of our nation to further solidify supremacism, democracy, and good governance provides us with an unparalleled advantage: the ability to confront the future fearlessly and envision a lasting transformation that benefits future generations.
Kenya is well on its way to achieving its greatest fortunes so long as the welfare of its citizens remains our top priority and we fulfill our respective responsibilities to ensure an accountable, pragmatic, and transparent government. I am convinced that within this generation, we will accomplish a level of metamorphosis that surpasses our most imaginative expectations.
We have a momentous opportunity as a nation and as a people to preside over the most profound transformation and advancement ever observed. Kenya is a nation comprised of courageous, opportunity-seeking, and diligent citizens who are determined to overcome the greatest struggle ever witnessed and win the race to prosperity.
When opportunity presents itself, great exploits will be accomplished in a nation such as ours. This is why the diligent effort that we have invested is already bearing the appearance of bountiful results.
Nairobi is no longer “on your marks”; a solid foundation has been established wherever rapid development is sought.
Presently, the condition of our nation is one of readiness and readiness to proceed.
Yours truly, thank you. Bless You, God. Blessings of God upon Kenya.
Inside President Ruto’s 1 Hour, 52-Page, 5,863-Word State Of The Nation Speech
