Ruto Uses Embu Church Service To Defend Development Agenda
Politics Updated: 05 July 2026 17:58 EAT
Photo Courtesy:President William Ruto attended the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK), Gatunduri Church in Embu County during his Sunday service visit
President William Ruto attended a Sunday service at Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK), Gatunduri Church in Embu County, where he joined congregants and local leaders for worship before addressing political and development issues. The visit formed part of his ongoing church engagements across the country, with the president using the platform to defend his administration’s record and outline progress on key sectors including agriculture, education, healthcare and infrastructure.
While addressing congregants in Embu County during a church service, he started by thanking residents for their political support and framing his engagement with them as a long-term partnership based on the 2022 election mandate.
“Na mimi naendelea kushukuru watu wa Embu kwa ushirika wenu, kwa kutushikilia kwa kura mliyonipatia, na kwa maombi mnaombea taifa letu la Kenya na sisi tulio viongozi katika taifa hili.”
He stated that his visit to Embu involved recalling past campaign engagements where he sought votes directly from residents in church settings and other public forums, emphasizing continuity of that political relationship.
“Mimi nilikuja hapa nikaomba kura zenu. Mnakumbuka? Mliniona nikiomba kura zenu?”
Ruto defended his leadership style, arguing that voters should reject what he termed political arrogance among leaders, and insisted that governance must be anchored on accountability to citizens who elected them.
“Eh, so watu watulize boli, kiburi wapunguze, na hiyo madharau waliyonayo wapunguze.”
He said his administration would be evaluated in 2027 based on development outcomes, signaling that upcoming political assessments would focus on delivery of campaign promises.
“Si kutakuwa na mtihani mwaka ujao? Si kuna yale maneno tulikubaliana ya kilimo?”
The president highlighted agriculture as a key sector, citing reduced fertilizer costs as part of government interventions aimed at lowering production expenses for farmers.
“Mimi niliwaeleza nitapunguza gharama ya mbolea. Mnajua bei ya mbolea saa hizi?”
He referenced coffee and tea reforms, stating that coffee prices had risen significantly under his administration, positioning it as evidence of improved agricultural returns.
“Bei ya kahawa sasa imefika 140 ikielekea 150. Ni kweli ama si kweli?”
Ruto also pointed to ongoing reforms in education, stating that government expenditure on education had increased substantially since 2022, including expansion of university and basic education funding.
“Kwa bajeti ambayo nimesaini wiki mbili iliyopita, pesa ya elimu imeongezeka kutoka bilioni 500 mwaka wa 2022 mpaka bilioni 784 mwaka huu.”
He said thousands of teachers had been recruited and additional classrooms constructed to address historical shortages in the education sector.
“Ndani ya miaka minne nimeajiri walimu! Tumejenga madarasa.”
On higher education, he referenced a new university funding model designed to stabilize financing and expand infrastructure development in public universities.
“Leo hapo hapo chuo kikuu tumeweka pesa milioni 800 ya kujenga hostels.”
He cited ongoing construction projects at the University of Embu, including completion of stalled infrastructure projects that had reportedly remained unfinished for years.
“Kuna mjengo hapo ulikuwa umekwama miaka 15. Hilo jengo leo nimepitia hapo ni mrembo sana.”
The president announced funding allocations for student accommodation, stating that hundreds of millions of shillings had been directed toward hostel construction for universities and technical institutions.
“Tumejizatiti kwa bajeti yetu shilingi bilioni 2.2 ya hostels za TVET.”
He added that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions were receiving expanded investment, including multi-billion-shilling housing infrastructure programs.
“Tumejenga hostels za technical training colleges zetu zote hapa.”
On healthcare, Ruto defended the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying it was designed to reduce the burden of medical costs on households by shifting financing to the government system.
“Maneno ya matibabu pale nyuma, watu wengi walikuwa wanauza nyumba zao, wanauza ng'ombe, wanauza shamba.”
He stated that a majority of Embu residents had registered under SHA and that billions of shillings had been disbursed to county health facilities for treatment services.
“72% ya watu wa Embu wamejiandikisha ndani ya SHA.”
The president also referenced increased funding for medicine procurement nationally, saying allocations had been raised to improve availability of drugs in public hospitals.
“Tumeongeza pesa ya kununua madawa kutoka bilioni 13 hadi bilioni 19.”
On infrastructure, he outlined ongoing road projects in Embu, including multiple kilometers of road construction and upgrades across different constituencies.
“Hiyo barabara tulikubaliana na nyinyi ni ile ya Kev Kevote.”
He announced new investments in markets and economic infrastructure, stating that several market projects were under construction to support small traders and urban commerce.
“Sasa hapa Manyatta pekee yake tunajenga soko tatu.”
Ruto also presented a long-term development framework involving energy, irrigation, and infrastructure financing, including the creation of a national infrastructure fund supported by state-linked financial assets.
“Tumeweka fund sasa ambayo nimeweka hii juzi ambayo inaitwa National Infrastructure Fund au ya mambo matatu ya muhimu.”
He emphasized political unity and rejected ethnic divisions, insisting that national cohesion was essential for development and stability.
“Ukabila inatugawanya inatufanya wadhaifu… hiyo ni ujinga kugawanya watu.”
He further stated that the government had created employment opportunities through housing, markets, and infrastructure projects across the country.
“Karibu vijana 700 wanafanya kazi ndani ya affordable housing, ya hostels, ya markets.”
Ruto concluded by reinforcing his partnership with Embu leaders and commitment to continued development projects in the region.
“Soko nitahakikisha inajengwa, barabara nitahakikisha inajengwa, nitahakikisha hospitali itajengwa.”
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FELIX MAKONA
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