President William Ruto has pointed to South Korea and Singapore as examples Kenya should emulate, saying investment in education and skills development remains the surest path to economic transformation.
Speaking during the National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi on Friday, the President said Kenya’s future competitiveness would depend on the quality of its workforce rather than the resources it possesses.
Ruto said the government was committed to strengthening merit, fairness and transparency in the public service, arguing that rewarding performance and innovation would help unlock the country’s full potential.
“No nation can rise higher than the collective skills, discipline and diligence of its people,” the President said.
He noted that countries such as South Korea and Singapore achieved rapid economic growth by placing education and human capital development at the centre of their development agenda, adding that Kenya must follow a similar path if it hopes to realise its economic ambitions.
The President said the government was also investing in specialised training in science, technology and research to prepare Kenyans for a rapidly changing global economy.
“To fully realise our developmental aspirations, we must make bold, substantial investments in our human capital,” he said.
His remarks come at a time when the government is rolling out programmes aimed at expanding technical skills, digital literacy and job opportunities for young people, while also seeking to position Kenya as a regional hub for innovation and technology.
Ruto said continuous re-skilling of workers would be critical in ensuring the country remains competitive and productive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The President’s latest remarks signal the government’s growing focus on workforce development as a key pillar of its long-term economic transformation agenda.