President William Ruto has strongly defended his administration’s ambitious promises, brushing off criticism that the Kenya Kwanza government overpromised during the 2022 campaign.
Speaking at the Third National Executive Retreat held at the KCB Leadership Centre in Kajiado County, Ruto maintained that his government is on course to fulfill its transformative pledges under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“We promised a lot, but we will deliver,” Ruto declared, addressing Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and senior officials gathered for the two-day retreat meant to assess progress on key government commitments.
Admitting the road to transformation has not been easy, the President said his administration had made deliberate, sometimes difficult decisions to initiate long-term change. “The journey has not been smooth. It is full of challenges and tough choices,” he said.
Ruto revealed that some advisers had urged him to delay implementing tough policies until a potential second term, but he rejected the idea. “I have even had people tell me, ‘You’ve taken on too much—wait for your second term.’ But we’ve been timid before, and it hasn’t worked. Our focus is not the next election, it’s the transformation of Kenya,” he said.
In response to critics who claim the Kenya Kwanza coalition made unrealistic promises, the Head of State remained defiant: “The accusation I often get is that we overpromised. But I want to tell you that we did not overpromise. We promised what is doable.”
He pointed to the Kenya Kwanza manifesto as a well-researched roadmap for development. “All our commitments are documented. I’m very clear in my mind—we will deliver successfully and earn the correct marks,” he added.
Turning to the government’s Affordable Housing Programme, Ruto assured Kenyans of a fair and transparent allocation process. Addressing concerns over bias, he said: “I give you my assurance that allocations will not be done on an ethnic basis. All deserving Kenyans will benefit equally because we want to build a united country.”
He further reassured residents that locals would be given priority in owning the new units. “Rest assured that you will be given first priority before considering other Kenyans,” Ruto said during his inspection of the Kibera Soweto East Zone B Affordable Housing Project on May 23, 2025.
The President also addressed ongoing concerns over levies tied to the housing plan, which have drawn public criticism, insisting that the programme will uplift communities and stimulate the economy.
On healthcare, President Ruto said 23.3 million Kenyans have already registered under the new Social Health Authority (SHA), with over 93,000 signing up on June 9 alone. He expressed optimism about the uptake of the new universal healthcare system, rebranded last year from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to Taifa Care.
“Kenyans have started to see that SHA is paying bills for people around them,” Ruto noted. “Under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration. I urge every Kenyan to register as soon as possible. This is the most important step in securing dependable healthcare.”
President Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to building a united, prosperous nation and concluded his address by urging all government officials to remain focused and accountable.
“We must demonstrate that what we promised is not just rhetoric but a real plan backed by action and results,” he said.
