President Ruto’s Madaraka Day Speech: Key Highlights from Homa Bay

HOMA BAY, Kenya – President William Ruto delivered a comprehensive Madaraka Day address at the newly refurbished Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, outlining significant achievements and ambitious plans for Kenya’s economic transformation during the 62nd independence celebrations.

Economic Achievements Take Center Stage

Speaking to thousands of Kenyans at the lakeside venue, President Ruto painted a picture of an economy on the upswing, citing impressive statistics that underscore his administration’s economic management since taking office in August 2022.

“Since August 2022, Kenya has recorded an average annual growth rate of 5%, outperforming the global average of 3.3% and the regional average of 3.8%,” the President announced, highlighting Kenya’s position as a regional economic leader.

The President pointed to the strengthening of the Kenyan shilling as a key victory, noting its appreciation by nearly 20% against the US dollar, from KSh 162 to KSh 129. This performance, he said, makes it “one of the best-performing currencies in the world.”

Other economic indicators showed positive trends, with the Central Bank Rate decreasing from 13% to 10%, while foreign exchange reserves reached $10 billion, extending import cover from 2.5 to 4 months.

Housing Revolution Gains Momentum

The President’s speech heavily emphasized the Affordable Housing Programme, which he described as “a powerful symbol of the socio-economic transformation underway across Kenya.”

The program has delivered tangible results, with the President announcing that he had recently handed over keys to the first 1,080 social housing units in Nairobi’s new Mukuru Estate. In Homa Bay County specifically, 110 affordable housing units at the Boma Yangu Housing Estate were allocated to local residents, including a boda boda rider, a fish trader, a jua kali fabricator, and a security guard.

The President announced a significant reform to make housing more accessible: “I am pleased to announce today that we shall be proposing to Parliament a reform to the law that will allow any contributor to access an affordable home loan of up to KSh5 million at a single-digit interest rate.”

Healthcare Transformation Through SHA

Universal Healthcare Coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA) featured prominently in the address, with the President declaring that “word is beginning to get out throughout the nation that ‘SHA is working.’”

The numbers support this claim: 23 million Kenyans have registered with SHA, with 50,000 new registrations occurring daily. The system has disbursed KSh43 billion in claims to facilities, with 4.5 million Kenyans receiving fully covered treatment.

A new payment system called “LIPA SHA POLE POLE” was introduced, allowing Kenyans to pay their annual SHA contributions through flexible installments. “The system is simple and accessible; citizens can dial *147# and follow the prompts to enrol and begin their contributions immediately,” the President explained.

Agricultural Sector Revival

The President outlined significant improvements in agricultural earnings, with concrete figures demonstrating the impact of government interventions:

• Milk farmers now earn KSh50 per liter, up from KSh35
• Coffee farmers earn up to KSh150 per kilo, increased from an average of KSh65
• Tea earnings rose from KSh138 billion in 2022 to KSh215 billion in 2024
• Sugar production surged from 490,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 815,000 metric tonnes in 2024

The government has leased four state-owned sugar factories—Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni—to private operators to improve efficiency and ensure timely payments to farmers.

Education Transformation

The President announced the completion of Kenya’s transition to Competency-Based Education and highlighted the largest teacher recruitment drive since independence. “We have undertaken the largest teacher recruitment drive since independence, employing 76,000 new teachers over a period of two years, and are on course to employ an additional 24,000 by January 2026,” he stated.

TVET enrollment is set to quadruple from 500,000 in 2023 to 2 million by the end of 2025, addressing skills gaps and youth unemployment.

Youth Empowerment Initiatives

Several youth-focused programs were announced, including the KSh20 billion National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project, developed with World Bank partnership. The project targets over 800,000 youth aged 18-29 years with skills training, entrepreneurial development, and seed capital.

The Hustler Fund has supported over 25 million borrowers, disbursing KSh70 billion and mobilizing KSh4.5 billion in savings. Notably, 400,000 beneficiaries now qualify for loans up to KSh150,000 based solely on their credit scores.

Climate Worx, a nationwide program engaging 110,000 young people in environmental work, will commence rollout across all 47 counties this week.

Blue Economy Focus

Fitting for the lakeside venue, the President emphasized Kenya’s Blue Economy potential, noting it currently contributes KSh36 billion (0.6% of GDP) but has the potential to contribute KSh400 billion.

Major investments include the Kabonyo Fisheries and Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence in Nyando, Kisumu County, which will produce 7 million fingerlings quarterly to restock Lake Victoria.

Over 4,000 fish cages have been established in Lake Victoria, producing 12,000 metric tonnes annually. The government is constructing modern fish landing sites and markets to reduce post-harvest losses currently estimated at 30-40%.

Infrastructure Development

The President reported constructing 1,800 kilometers of new tarmac roads and maintaining over 134,800 kilometers over the past two and a half years. Major projects include extending the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba, with construction of a dual carriageway from Mau Summit to Rironi beginning in July.

A Call for Unity and Belief

Throughout his address, President Ruto emphasized the theme of self-belief and unity, stating that “only we can do the work of building the Kenya we want.” He challenged Kenyans to embrace change and maintain confidence in the country’s transformation agenda.

The President concluded by renewing the promise of Kenya’s founding fathers: “to leave no one behind, and to build a Kenya where hope and opportunity are a right for all.”

The comprehensive address, delivered in front of thousands at the upgraded Raila Odinga Stadium, painted a picture of a government confident in its achievements and ambitious about Kenya’s future prospects across multiple sectors of the economy.