Inside President Ruto’s Jamhuri Day 2024 Speech

Inside President Ruto’s Jamhuri Day 2024 Speech

President William Ruto presided over the Jamhuri Day celebrations on Thursday, December 12, at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi County.

Below is the full speech, rephrased:

1. It is an honor to join in celebrating the 61st anniversary of our nation’s founding. This moment invites us to reflect on the significance of our sovereignty and honor the heroes whose dedication dismantled imperialist systems. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for a republic defined by freedom, unity, peace, entrepreneurship, and democracy.
2. By revisiting our achievements since our flag was first raised, we reaffirm that staying rooted in our identity has sustained us through both prosperity and adversity. Our national character, inspired by the principles of our forebears, has driven us to overcome oppression, foster unity, and ensure equality for all.
3. Our journey as a nation began with the immense sacrifices of men and women who believed their struggles were a small price to pay for liberating millions from the oppressive grip of colonialism into the light of freedom.
4. Before 1963, our hard work served colonial settlers; after independence, our efforts went toward supporting our families and building a nation. Once restricted to the elite, education, healthcare, and security became rights for all. Our sovereignty transformed us from voiceless subjects to empowered citizens.
5. The year 1963 marked a monumental shift for Kenya, ushering in historic change and continuity of core values. Independence illuminated a horizon of opportunity, yet our unity, diligence, and determination remained unwavering in shaping a prosperous nation.
6. It is vital for our generation to remember the journey that began six decades ago. The freedom, democracy, and development we enjoy today are the fruits of relentless efforts by countless patriots over time, reminding us that nation-building requires patience and persistence.
7. Independence was achieved through the bravery and resolve of freedom fighters who faced uncertainty with ambition and determination. Their courage serves as a timeless lesson that meaningful progress demands hard work, patience, and unity.
8. I urge every Kenyan to embrace this perspective as we strive for greater heights. Challenges should inspire resilience and ambition, not despair or skepticism. Our strength lies in forging ahead with courage and optimism.
9. I have full confidence in the capacity of our people to scrutinize policies and hold leaders accountable. Democratic freedom empowers citizens to fulfill their civic duty and leaders to deliver responsible governance, driving national success.
10. Recent times have been tough, with factors beyond our control raising the cost of living, limiting job opportunities, and straining entrepreneurial ventures. These circumstances have fueled economic uncertainty, necessitating swift, targeted, and effective solutions to restore stability.

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1. The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda stems from a determined effort to tackle core challenges head-on with bold ambitions. Its primary objective is to establish a strong foundation for vibrant economic activity that creates millions of opportunities at the grassroots annually. This approach aims to foster inclusive, sustainable growth by addressing key priorities such as lowering the cost of living, encouraging enterprise, enhancing productivity, generating jobs, and fostering investment in manufacturing, industrialization, and export competitiveness.
2. Our initial focus was on making significant sacrifices to realign public finances onto a sustainable trajectory. This step was crucial to channeling investments into the plan’s strategic pillars and transformative enablers. The milestones achieved thus far underscore our commitment to creating optimal conditions for progress across every value chain that underpins our economic agenda.
3. Every moment calls for a different response: to resist or accept, to doubt or believe. In the face of irrefutable evidence, skepticism must yield to confidence, rejecting the allure of disinformation and fake news. The tangible results and positive impacts of our economic transformation efforts are now undeniable and widely recognized.
4. Financial inclusion has become a reality for millions of Kenyans. The Hustler Fund, now celebrating its second anniversary, has disbursed KSh60 billion, empowering individuals to escape exploitative lending practices, address financial needs, support their ventures, and improve their creditworthiness.
5. Feedback from borrowers has shaped the introduction of the Bridge Loan, a new offering from the Hustler Fund. Designed for those with strong credit scores, this product transitions borrowers from smaller personal loans to larger facilities with extended repayment terms. It opens doors for Kenyans to seize greater opportunities and make impactful investments.
6. We have achieved remarkable strides in combatting hunger for three consecutive seasons and are on a solid path toward surplus food production. This surge in agricultural productivity has significantly boosted the incomes of farmers in maize, tea, sugar, coffee, and dairy value chains.
7. This agricultural success is a direct outcome of redirecting public resources from consumption subsidies to productivity enhancement. Food is now more affordable and accessible, supported by robust national stocks: 95 million 50kg bags of maize, 9 million bags of beans, 10 million bags of wheat, and 2 million bags of rice. Kenya is steadily moving towards being food-secure, ensuring every family has access to affordable meals.
8. Increased land cultivation and higher per-acre yields are transforming Kenya’s agricultural landscape. Subsidized inputs and extension services have empowered farmers, fueling the agro-industrial sector with raw materials and boosting value addition. This growth is creating jobs and expanding Kenya’s reach in intra-African trade, the European Union, the UK, and global markets.
9. Digital transformation is a cornerstone of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, emphasizing inclusive growth. The nationwide deployment of a fiber optic network aims to connect over 74,000 public institutions and establish 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots. These initiatives will bridge the digital divide by providing Internet connectivity to 8.5 million homes and businesses, promoting technological inclusivity across communities.
10. The digitization of government services is accelerating transformation and efficiency. The e-Citizen portal has streamlined 20,855 services, enhancing transparency, minimizing corruption, and improving revenue collection. This initiative highlights the far-reaching benefits of digital transformation, optimizing public resource management and elevating citizens’ experience with government services.
11. Our digital transformation strategy is making a substantial impact on skills development and job creation. Programs like Ajira Digital and Jitume Digital are advancing our goal to equip 20 million citizens with ICT skills, promote entrepreneurship, and foster inclusive digital literacy. In essence, an additional 20 million Kenyans are being prepared for productive participation in the digital economy. We are also incorporating creative industry courses into technical and vocational institutions as a proven method to build a skilled workforce.
12. These impactful measures lay the groundwork for our strategy to foster the growth of a fully established digital economy, capitalizing on Kenya’s role as a regional leader in software development and digital exports. Key initiatives, such as the creation of institutional frameworks and incentives, support investments, encourage collaborations, and facilitate the transfer of digital technologies, focusing on areas like AI and blockchain. These efforts empower local innovators and tech entrepreneurs, driving economic diversification and resilience.
13. The ongoing debate on universal healthcare continues to raise concerns about eligibility, the capability of facilities to deliver services, and the alignment of contributions with benefits.
14. Through Taifa Care, our inclusive, transparent, and efficient healthcare service model, we are undertaking a large-scale transition. We’ve successfully moved 5.6 million citizens from the National Health Insurance Fund and enrolled 11 million Kenyans in the Social Health Insurance Fund. In just two months, 11 million previously uninsured Kenyans are now registered, with the registration process continuing rapidly across the country.
15. I commend Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Bomet, Embu, and Lamu for leading in Taifa Care registration. At the same time, I encourage residents of Marsabit, Garissa, Mandera, West Pokot, and Turkana counties to mobilize, register, and take full advantage of this transformative program.
16. Taifa Care guarantees healthcare access to all registered citizens, free from discrimination. The program has precisely calculated the cost of healthcare services and products, allocated resources for equipment and facility upgrades, and utilized digital technology to improve healthcare management, coordination, and delivery. This approach promotes efficiency, transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability. No public service delivery project of this scope and ambition has ever been attempted in Kenya. We are confident that we will soon exceed the 16.5 million registered citizens and provide all Kenyans with high-quality, affordable, and sustainable healthcare.
17. With that said, I ask you this vital question: Have you registered? Those who have already registered find that many of their concerns and questions have been fully addressed. I encourage every Kenyan to register and exercise their constitutional right to healthcare.
18. After two and a quarter years, the affordable, durable, dignified homes we promised Kenyans are finally being delivered. Since September, 1,200 affordable housing units have been completed, and 4,888 units have been advertised for sale to the public through the Boma Yangu platform. Our goal to increase the number of mortgages from 30,000 to one million is now in full swing. The current pipeline for affordable housing includes 124,000 units under development across Kenya, with 840,000 more planned over the next four years, creating 1 million jobs.
19. Despite the challenges and crises we’ve faced, we’ve remained committed to our goals, making steady progress toward our aspirations and bringing the nation closer to its potential. Work is progressing across the country, with new opportunities emerging, especially for the youth. In the past two years, employment has increased, with new jobs in teaching, agriculture, healthcare, construction, seafaring, and through our labor mobility program abroad.
20. The affordable housing pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda has already created 200,000 jobs, along with numerous indirect opportunities within the construction sector. The universal healthcare coverage pillar has employed 107,000 community health promoters and other healthcare professionals to help build a functional national healthcare system. Additionally, jobs will be created in healthcare innovation, service delivery, and ICT support for digital health, unlocking nationwide opportunities. Furthermore, we have recruited 56,000 teachers to address the teacher shortage and brought the teacher-to-student ratio closer to the UN’s recommended 1:40. This December, we will hire another 20,000 teachers, while our revitalized micro, small, and medium enterprises have generated 840,000 jobs this year.
21. In response to the growing demand for employment among the hundreds of thousands of young people entering the workforce every year, we have broadened the scope of job opportunities and implemented strategies to facilitate international job placements for qualified Kenyans. Since September 2022, over 243,000 Kenyans have secured jobs abroad in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and construction, with 12,000 of them landing opportunities in the last two months. We have finalized labor agreements with seven countries, while two additional agreements are awaiting signatures, and negotiations are ongoing with 13 more countries. We aim to connect up to 2 million Kenyans to overseas jobs once these agreements are finalized.
22. Our Digital Superhighway and creative economy initiative, which involves laying 100,000 km of last-mile fiber-optic infrastructure and setting up digital hubs across the country, is focused on generating digital job opportunities at the grassroots level. So far, 690,000 individuals have received digital skills training through the Ajira and Jitume programs in various learning institutions, TVETs, and Constituency Innovation Hubs, with 180,000 youth already linked to online job opportunities. This program is on track to create one million jobs in the digital sector.
23. The establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) is driving investment, manufacturing, and exports, generating jobs, and boosting national wealth. Over the past two years, we have licensed more than 80 companies in these zones, resulting in 14,000 jobs. The ongoing development of flagship projects in Busia, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Eldoret, Kwale, and Nakuru is expected to create an additional 30,000 jobs. Furthermore, the operationalization of the Dongo Kundu and Naivasha special economic zones will provide 26,000 more jobs, promoting private sector investments and supporting county and public operations within these zones.
24. Simultaneously, Kenyan youth are playing a pivotal role in climate action, urban revitalization, and landscape restoration through the Kenya Urban Resilience or ClimateWorX program. Acknowledging the importance and urgency of these efforts, ClimateWorX is designed to be ambitious. To date, 21,560 Kenyans, nearly half of whom are women, have participated in Nairobi. The program will soon expand nationwide to engage 200,000 young people in infrastructure and environmental projects across our towns, offering youth empowerment while addressing climate change and strengthening urban living.
25. We are also focusing on fostering local content creation to improve the quality and competitiveness of Kenyan creative products for export while supporting the development of digital platforms to showcase Kenyan creativity to global audiences. I am confident that we are on the right path to transforming opportunities for our creative industry.
26. I commend the actors in our creative industries whose work energizes our cities, streets, and screens, despite their contributions often going unnoticed. Musicians, the heartbeat of our culture, have long been denied fair compensation for their work. It is unjust that an artist earns as little as 10,000 shillings annually, while royalty collectors earn millions each month. This injustice must end. The Kenya Copyright Board, along with industry stakeholders and E-Citizen, should establish a transparent, real-time system for royalty collection and distribution to ensure rightful owners receive their due earnings.
27. As we pursue this goal, Kenya is also preparing to take a global leadership role by bidding to host the 2026 World Creative Economy Conference. This bid demonstrates our commitment to celebrating our talent and showcasing Kenya’s vibrant culture to the world. Hosting this conference will serve as a bold statement of Kenya’s leadership in the creative economy.
28. Our dedicated efforts are creating jobs and opportunities, and this is just the beginning. We are building on the progress we’ve made to generate more employment in the future. The core of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda is to enhance our capacity for incremental progress, accelerating our ability to fulfill our commitments for the benefit of all Kenyans.
29. On this Jamhuri Day, I want to emphasize that despite challenges, obstacles, resistance, and anxiety, it is the responsibility of leadership to stay true to their promises and the government’s duty to deliver. We are committed to meeting our goals, with the first projects now successfully reaching maturity.
30. The intentional and strategic focus on developing effective employment creation strategies within our broader economic transformation plan is yielding results. The current numbers indicate a significant increase in employment opportunities, whether domestic, international, or online, shortly. We are determined to build a labor market capable of absorbing a large number of job seekers, taking into account the output of our educational and training institutions, which produce skilled, motivated, and talented young people. By investing in these efforts now, we are laying a solid foundation for citizens to seize future opportunities.
31. As we move forward, let us learn from history and rise above political divisions to serve Kenya’s best interests. The generations before us overcame even greater challenges to secure a victory whose impact continues to benefit us and will endure for generations. In their fight to reclaim sovereignty, freedom fighters faced immense opposition, including the use of advanced technologies like radio and airplanes to spread misinformation. These tools aimed to deceive and demoralize the people, falsely claiming that the freedom fighters had been defeated. However, our heroes and heroines were undeterred, motivated by their cause, and pressed on with unwavering courage. On December 12th, all Kenyans celebrated their triumph as our proud flag rose, marking the reclaiming of our Republic. Jamhuri Day is also an opportunity for Kenyans to challenge false narratives meant to undermine our ambitions, hope, and determination.
32. I am confident that our national economic transformation agenda will succeed and benefit the people of Kenya. While I welcome constructive dialogue, criticism, and alternative proposals, I also recognize that much of the opposition is based on misinformation. We are living in an age where digital technologies have the power to amplify falsehoods and distort the truth. If we succumb to these negative trends, we risk losing our freedom, democracy, and development.
33. I urge all Kenyans to actively participate in our democratic discourse while focusing on nation-building. Let us always engage with truth, as failure to do so will lead us down a path of negativity, erode the values we hold dear, and divide us. This division could hinder development, undermine democracy, and destroy our Republic in the name of political gain.
34. When we say that the cost of basic food items has decreased, it is a fact. When we say inflation has been reduced, it is a fact. When we say our farmers are producing more and better, it is a fact. And when we say that those enrolled in Taifa Care are receiving better services, it is a fact. We encourage everyone, including our critics, to engage based on these facts. If some continue to spread unfounded negativity, how long will they convince Kenyans to ignore truths that they can see and experience? What will they say when we begin handing over keys to new affordable housing units? What will they say about the thousands of workers already employed, including the 300 youth who were sent abroad for work?
35. I am confident in the future of our nation and our national transformation agenda because I trust the strategies we’ve put in place, the work already underway, and the people’s motivation to contribute. I am just one of many Kenyans who desire the best for our country and are committed to making it happen. Our optimism and hope for the future are fueled by understanding, truth, and facts.
36. We must do everything in our power to preserve the essence of our Republic as an open and free democratic society. This means ensuring that political competition never turns into an attack on democracy, development, or the morale of the people. Despite our differences, we are united by the desire to achieve the best for Kenya and its citizens. With this in mind, we must encourage inclusion and create a platform for broad engagement that allows for diverse viewpoints and innovative approaches. To be truly transformational, we must continuously evolve our strategies and ourselves.
37. I will continue to reach out to Kenyans from all walks of life, regardless of their political views, to promote collaboration and ensure the growth of our Republic. Never underestimate the power of citizens to create positive change, both individually and collectively. Over time, we’ve gradually refined many economic development strategies based on public feedback. The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda includes mechanisms to improve based on this feedback, recognizing that leadership is about learning from the people and improving every day. Listening is a vital part of effective leadership, and national transformation is a shared effort.
38. I am grateful to the patriots across the political spectrum who have shown exceptional leadership and goodwill in addressing critical national issues, including the creation of an inclusive government. I also appreciate the support from leaders with whom I continue to discuss important national matters. Together, I am confident that we can achieve much more for Kenya, and the future we envision is within reach.
39. While we have not yet fully achieved all our goals, we have made significant progress. We are no longer where we were a year or two ago. We have moved from promises to action, and evidence now shows that Kenyans are working together toward a transformed nation.
40. Our ability to provide for the people, keep them healthy, empower them, and safeguard their freedom is improving rapidly. When we unite around a shared vision for nation-building, we will make Kenya great, and our collective legacy will inspire both current and future generations.

Inside President Ruto’s Jamhuri Day 2024 Speech