President William Ruto defended his two-year record in office yesterday, highlighting health, finance, and housing as key pillars of his emerging legacy.
Speaking in Kwale during the country’s 61st Mashujaa Day celebrations, the President urged his critics and Kenyans who feel they have yet to benefit from his interventions to be patient, expressing confidence that his bottom-up economic plan is on track.
“The time for doubt and anxiety is slowly but surely behind us, and the space for criticism, skepticism, and pessimism is over,” Ruto stated, asserting that the state recognizes the daily struggles faced by Kenyans, whom he referred to as heroes in their own right.In his address, Ruto called for continued patience as he works to fulfill his campaign promises, emphasizing that his administration’s transformation agenda will ultimately succeed.
“We must not allow the fear of change to imprison us in the past. Instead, we must have greater faith in our collective capacity to achieve inclusive transformation and progress that leaves no one behind,” he said.Ruto acknowledged recent frustrations surrounding the transfer of health insurance to the Social Health Authority, assuring citizens that any teething problems would be resolved swiftly.
“In a matter of weeks, the Social Health Insurance Fund will be operating efficiently, bringing us closer to Universal Health Coverage,” he assured.
In a rebuttal to his critics, Ruto emphasized the importance of embracing change, stating, “Real change leads us into unfamiliar territory; transformative change challenges old assumptions and unlocks unprecedented possibilities.”
He noted that every step into the future requires courage, and cautioned against the temptation to revert to familiar but outdated practices.
The President also highlighted the measures his administration has implemented to enhance Universal Health Coverage, including improving the distribution of biomedical, pharmaceutical, and medical supplies.
He mentioned the establishment of Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) regional distribution centers in Kisumu, Embakasi, and Mombasa as part of these efforts.
Despite recent political upheavals, including tensions with his deputy, Ruto reaffirmed that his administration remains focused on addressing persistent challenges such as unemployment, poverty, increasing inequality, and underdevelopment.
“These issues are not just undesirable; they are unacceptable deviations from the legacy of our heroes and the spirit of our intergenerational commitment to freedom,” he stated.On agricultural transformation, Ruto announced that his administration has finalized the procurement of the next batch of subsidized fertilizer, with ongoing reforms planned across various agricultural sectors, including fisheries, aquaculture, horticulture, food crops, livestock, beekeeping, and rangeland development.
