Ruto Vows First-World Transformation and Zero Tolerance for Political Chaos
Politics Updated: 23 July 2026 14:22 EAT
Photo Courtesy: President William Samoei Ruto speaking when he hosted Nairobi County Artisans at the State House Nairobi.
President William Samoei Ruto addressed a gathering of informal sector artisans, leaders, and Nairobi residents at State House, Nairobi. His address outlined key government initiatives under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), focusing on skills development, infrastructure expansion, healthcare access, public education, and national security.
The administration emphasizes a governance framework designed to serve all Kenyan citizens equitably, removing barriers based on socio-economic background, occupation, age, or ethnicity.
"Tulikubaliana ya kwamba serikali yetu itakuwa serikali ya wakenya wote bila ya kujali kiwango ya mtu, kazi anayofanya, umri wake, jamii anatoka, sehemu anatoka, kijiji anatoka. Sisi wote ni ndugu moja."
Addressing critics regarding the presence of non-salaried informal sector workers at State House, the President affirmed that informal enterprise operators pay taxes and drive national development, guaranteeing them equal policy priority alongside formal sector employees.
"Mimi naelewa ya kwamba nyinyi hamna paylip lakini nyinyi ni wafanyibiashara. Nyinyi ni mafundi, nyinyi ni wakenya na vile tunashughulikia wale wako na paylip... tusisahau hawa wakenya mamilioni pia hawa wanalipa ushuru..."
The government has launched a fully funded online registration program to certify self-taught artisans, enabling skilled informal workers to acquire official trade certificates funded directly by the state.
"Sisi tuko tayari na tayari tumefungua mtandao ili nyinyi mjiandikishe na serikali ya Kenya itakulipia wewe gharama ya kupata certificate na tutakupatia certificate... Na hiyo gharama italipwa na serikali ya Kenya na hiyo kazi ya kusajili watu kwa ile kitu tunaita recognition of prior inaendelea Kenya..."
To provide structured environments for informal traders, the state is constructing fully equipped modern workshops complete with electricity, cold storage, and organized working spaces across every town in Kenya.
"Lazima tuwe na designated places ambayo serikali itawajengea workshop na iwapatie leseni ya kuendesha hiyo kama biashara yenu... Kila mji katika taifa letu la Kenya sasa tutakuwa na mpango kupitia kwa affordable housing ya kujenga workshops ya wafanyibiashara wetu."
Over 850,000 residents in Nairobi have registered under the updated national social health system, with the government disbursing KSh 32 billion to Nairobi health facilities over the past 1.5 years to ensure access to healthcare services.
"Leo hapa Nairobi wacha niwapatie statistics leo Nairobi wananchi wamejiandikisha ni wananchi milioni 850,000 citizens of the city of Nairobi wamejiandikisha... pesa ambayo tumelipa kwa mahospitali ya Nairobi in the last 1 and a half years ni shilingi bilioni 32 hapa Nairobi..."
The state has rebranded and expanded the maternal care framework into Linda Jamii, guaranteeing comprehensive state funding for maternal clinic visits, delivery services, and early pediatric care across public health centers.
"Na nimesema vile vile ambayo tulikuwa tunaita Linda mama sasa ni Linda jamii. Kila kwa mama bora tu usikie ya kwamba ball ishaingia... serikali ya Kenya itakulipia uende pale kwa klinik mpaka upate mtoto."
The President advocated for responsible reproductive planning, encouraging male citizens to support women's health by embracing planned family spacing and accessing health services responsibly.
"Nawaambia wanaume wenzangu nyinyi msisumbue kina mama... Hapana hapana wacha mama apumzike bwana kuwa na mpango... Si hawa jamaa waende polepole."
To modernise the national capital, the government is executing the construction and upgrading of 260 kilometers of new road networks across Nairobi County.
"Nikizungumza na nyinyi sasa tuko na barabara kilom 260 mpya ambayo tunajenga Nairobi County. Nairobi ndio sura ya Kenya. Kama Nairobi sio nzuri, Kenya haitakuwa na sura mzuri."
The government has invested KSh 2 billion this year into expanding power grid connectivity within urban informal settlements, including areas such as Kosovo in Nairobi.
"Tumeunganisha stima Nairobi in the last 3 years ni watu 12 tumeawapatia stima na hiyo kazi tumeweka bilioni mbili tena mwaka huu kuhakikisha kwamba zile vile estate ama sehemu kama vile Kosovo na sehemu zingine ambazo hazikuwa na stima zilikuwa zimezima."
To eliminate overcrowding and address severe educational facility shortages in Nairobi County, the administration has constructed 500 new classrooms.
"Nyinyi mnajua tumekuwa na matatizo makubwa sana ya masomo Nairobi hii madarasa haitoshi tumejenga madarasa mpya 500 na mimi nataka niwahakikishie kwamba tutaendelea na hiyo kazi mpaka tuhakikishe ya kwamba watoto wa Kenya wote wanapata nafasi ya kusoma."
The national budget allocation for the education sector has been expanded significantly from KSh 500 billion in 2022 to KSh 780 billion in the current budget cycle.
"Mimi tangu mwaka wa 2022 nimeongeza pesa ambayo tumeweka kwa elimu kutoka bilioni 500 mwaka huu imefika bilioni 780 kuhakikisha kwamba watoto wetu wote wanasoma."
The state has recruited 100,000 teachers, updated the national curriculum framework to Competency-Based Education (CBE), and introduced new funding frameworks for universities and TVET institutions.
"Tumeajiri walimu laki moja tumejenga madarasa tumebadilisha ile CBC sasa ni CBE and training na tumehakikisha ya kwamba watoto wetu kwa university na TETET pia wanapata nafasi ya kusoma kwa kuweka pesa ya kutosha."
Through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Amendment Bill, the administration seeks to guarantee full state funding support for every Kenyan student admitted to TVET institutes and public universitie .
"Na ndio nimesema iko sheria ya bunge saa hizi ya Haya Education Loans Board Amendment Bill ambayo sasa itatuwezesha kuhakikisha ya kwamba kila mtoto wa Kenya ambaye amekuwa placed kwa Tivet ama university tutahakikisha ya kwamba kuna funding..."
Nairobi currently hosts 36 active affordable housing projects comprising 180 individual building units, aimed at replacing informal settlement slums with modern residential units and university hostels.
"Hapa Nairobi tuko na projects 36 ya affordable housing ambazo zinaendelea na tunajenga manyumba 180 kwa sasa Nairobi sana... Leo Kibera inabadilika... Hapa makongeni inaendelea..."
The government emphasizes moving the national economy toward First World status while eliminating tribal division through policy-driven economic inclusion.
Quote: "Are we going to be moving forward into first world or are we retreating into poverty and into squala?... We are moving forward into a first world country. Mimi niko tayari na kazi yangu ni kuunganisha wakenya wote... siasa ile ya zamani ya kugawanya wakenya kwa misingi ya ukabila itaisha..."
Security organs have neutralized terrorism, anti-social crime, and livestock theft, while strictly banning property destruction and arson during public demonstrations to protect business enterprises.
"Wale watu walikuwa wanatusumbua magaidi na terrorism tumewamalizia, tumewazima. Wale walikuwa wanatuletea hasara ya wizi ya mifugo ketlers na wale wengine tumewamalizia... hakuna tena mambo ya kuchoma mali na kuharibu biashara ya watu Nairobi ama Kenya ingine."
In response to operational shortages raised by artisan leaders, the President pledged an immediate KSh 80 million government allocation to purchase working tools and equipment for Nairobi's artisans.
"So mimi nauliza hawa machirman na wabunge hawa tafadhali mnisaidie... na nitatoa milioni 80 ya kununulia nyinyi vifaa ndio muweze kufanya biashara zenu."
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FELIX MAKONA
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