President highlights milestones, reassures of better days ahead

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫

The President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E (Dr.) William Ruto, has this afternoon assured the Republic that the Nation is on the right track of recovery

He said this in his third State of the Nation Address before a Joint Sitting of Members of the National Assembly and the Senate, reaffirming his unwavering commitment to revolutionize the nation's economy.

The President under Article 132(1)(C) has the constitutional obligation of updating Kenyans on the progress made in realizing national values through a State of the Nation Address before both Houses of Parliament.

“Since my last address, Kenya has undergone rapid change occasioned by the collective awakening of the people in the understanding that the state of nation depends on the work we do, individually and collectively,” stated the President.

Dr. Ruto noted that the Government was aware of the struggles that still persist. “It is undeniable that for many Kenyans, times are hard and the struggle to meet their daily, basic needs remains daunting. It's also true that these conditions have persisted for a number of years now, leading to much frustration and anxiety,”noted the President.

He reiterated that the Government had been working tirelessly to steer the country away from the brink of unprecedented economic collapse.

“It was essential for us to drastically reduce expenditure, mobilise as much as possible resources domestically and curtail waste. As I informed the nation then, matters were going to get more difficult before they could get better and we all had to tighten our belts and work hard under very unforgiving conditions,” he added.

He urged Kenyans to be resilient in the face challenging circumstances, noting that commencement of the economic overhaul started during a difficult period and that much improvement had been witnessed.

On the improvement of the economy the noted “The Shilling has stabilised significantly, appreciating from Kshs 162 to the Dollar in February 2024, to Kshs 129 today. This recovery has restored confidence in our financial markets and significantly reduced the cost of servicing our external debts” 

He informed the House that inflation in the country has declined from 9.6% in September 2022 to 2.7% as of October 2024, the lowest rate in 17 years, while foreign exchange reserves surging from 2.4 billion dollars to a record of 9.5 billion dollars. President Ruto also noted that tax revenue collection had increased by 11 % reflecting the success of the tax based revenue generation policy.

On the restoration of the Country’s Health sector, President Ruto acknowledged the crucial role played by Parliament in facilitating the agenda's success by Health amendment laws. He specifically commended the passage of Primary Healthcare Act, Social Health Insurance Act, Digital Health Act, and Facility Improvement Financing Act.

The President acknowledge that Health delivery is not just about fulfilling a constitutional mandate, but rather about ensuring that healthcare is not a privilege for the few who can afford and pipe dream for the many who cannot

He noted that Taifa Care, which is the Universal Health Cover provided under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) will see all Kenyans and not only those why are employed or contributors to the fund get access to both free primary and specialised Healthcare.

“Once the transition from NHIF is complete and SHIF becomes fully operational, Kenya will have a healthcare system that guarantees dignity, peace of mind and equitable access for every citizen irrespective of their financial capability,” stated President Ruto.

In the fight against corruption, President Ruto called on all arms of government to take initiative to make sure that the fight against corruption is won promising to lead the charge from the front and match up to the expectations of the people of Kenya.

He went on to reiterate that, in the face of undisputed evidence or credible information on corruption, he would not hesitate to take decisive action.

“Accordingly I now direct that in furtherance of the principles enshrined in the Article 10 of the Constitution and new information provided by the investigative agencies, that the procurement agencies in the Ministry of transport and the Ministry of energy and petroleum immediately cancels the procurement process for the JKIA expansion public private partnership transaction and that with state utility provider KETRACO for the building and operation of power infrastructure.” 

The President further called on the Members of Parliament to enact the Conflict of Interest Bill to strengthen the anti-corruption policy framework.

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