Ruto's promises, performance and missteps four years on

President Ruto had publicly committed in May 2025 to have the national government settle the Sh700 million debt but has not honoured the promise.[PCS]

When President William Ruto took over the reins of power in August 2022, his administration promised a myriad of solutions to the problems afflicting Kenyans.

Having campaigned on a promise to give politics and economics of the past a wide berth, the Kenya Kwanza administration promised a turnaround of Kenya’s economic fortunes, creation of jobs, universal Healthcare, affordable housing, and an agricultural transformation within its first term in office. It also swore to uphold the constitution in the execution of its mandate.

But with just under a year to the 2027 elections, the current administration finds itself under immense scrutiny over its service delivery record, with the opposition accusing it of reversing major gains realized during previous administrations.

Linda Mwananchi’s Edwin Sifuna, Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamwalwa, who are part of a brigade determined to relegate President Ruto to a one-term Presidency, have remained critical of his government’s efforts to address the country’s challenges.

They have accused the government of a clawback of Constitutional gains, plunder of the economy, politicization of key government agendas, and a deviation from the rule of law- so much so that they have now called on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) intervention.

In his hardest criticism of the government yet, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused President Ruto’s administration of going against the very promises he made to Kenyans and instead presiding over human rights violations, corruption, wastage of public resources and a weaponization of state agencies.

During a televised address last month, Gachagua also accused the Head of State of abandoning his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (Beta) on the realization that it had failed and instead resorting to other agendas such as the ‘Singapore dream’ and vision 2060 – allegedly as distractions from the current administration’s shortcomings.

“When the Bottom-up plan failed, Kenyans were told that the answer lay in the National Dialogue committee report. It, too, has failed to deliver hope, unity, and reforms that were promised. Thereafter came the ten-point agenda presented as a renewed roadmap to rescue the country. In failing the plan, this administration has failed to keep Kenyans on the development path envisioned under Vision 2030,” he said.

“Whenever he (Ruto) is asked to account for what he has done, because he has no answer, he simply points to the next horizon. The harsh truth is that he does not have the capacity to deliver. You cannot fail today and ask us to trust you tomorrow for some distant, far-off future...” added Gachagua.

The President has, however, remained resolute in his vision for the country, citing the gains made in the education, healthcare, agriculture, housing, and infrastructure sectors as proof that his government is delivering on its promises.

According to data relayed by his administration, gains in the Education sector include the recruitment of 100,000 teachers, the construction of 23,000 classrooms for Junior and Senior School learners, and reforms to higher education financing.

“This financial year, the education sector will receive Sh784 billion, the highest allocation in the country's budget history. Education remains the greatest equaliser for all Kenyans," said President Ruto, who was speaking during a church service at the Full Gospel Church Gatunduri in Manyatta Constituency, on July 5.

 Embu County, on Sunday, the President said his administration had remained focused on programmes that directly improve the lives of wananchi rather than political rhetoric.

On healthcare, Kenya Kwanza documents that it has had more than 31 million Kenyans registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) since its rollout in October 2024. Embu County has occasionally been singled out as one of the country's best performers, noting that 72 per cent of residents had enrolled in the scheme.

It has also announced increased funding for medicines, saying the allocation for drugs in public hospitals had risen from Sh13 billion to Sh19 billion in the 2026/27 financial year. Previously, the President stated that the government had also mobilized Sh350 billion for the National Infrastructure Fund through the Kenya Pipeline Company initial public offering and the Safaricom share sale to finance major road and infrastructure projects.

Under the Affordable Housing Programme, Ruto’s regime boasts of creating nearly 700,000 jobs while supporting the construction of houses, modern markets and student hostels. In Agriculture, Ruto has held that government reforms have lowered fertilizer prices and boosted farmers' earnings.

"We promised to reform agriculture. The price of fertilizer has reduced, and coffee farmers are now earning more. In Embu, a kilogramme of coffee cherry is selling for between Sh140 and Sh150, up from about Sh60 in 2022," Ruto previously stated.

According to the Head of State, Kenya has strengthened its position as Africa's leading milk producer, with annual production rising from 4.5 billion litres in 2022 to 5.4 billion litres. This fact is, however, being challenged by the current reality, where the country is facing an acute milk shortage. Traders have reported empty shelves, fewer brands, and reduced deliveries, whereas there has been reported price increases between Sh 3 and Sh 5 for a 500 ML packet.

The Kenya Dairy Board has, however, revealed that the shortage is temporary and largely seasonal.

Nevertheless, President Ruto has maintained that his government should be judged by the tangible development it continues to deliver and not the political rhetoric.

Pundits, however, argue that the biggest blot on the current administration has been the violation of human rights guaranteed by the Constitution through abductions, insecurity proliferated by a surging goonism culture, and an endless cycle of politicking that has put the country on edge.

A report by Kenya’s National Human Rights Commission recorded 82 abductions or enforced disappearances between June and December 2024. Many of the people were reported missing after the country’s youth-led anti-tax protests. Dozens of young Kenyans reported being snatched from their homes or the streets by armed men.

Further, according to the report of the Presidential Task Force on Police Reforms, released by former Chief Justice David Maraga, nearly three Kenyans died every day from police brutality during the first four years of President William Ruto’s administration.

The report released on September 1 details that 3,958 deaths had been recorded during Ruto’s first four years. This translated to an average of 990 deaths a year, or about three deaths every day.

The figure, Maraga said, was significantly higher than the 4,035 deaths recorded over 10 years under former President Mwai Kibaki, an average of 404 a year, and the 4,150 deaths recorded during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 10-year tenure, an average of 415 a year.

Maraga, who chaired the task force, said the comparison was particularly troubling because the Kibaki-era figure included deaths linked to the 2007-08 post-election violence.

“We must note that under President Ruto, more deaths, currently at 3,958 in four years, an average of 990 per year, are a result of police brutality, a number far beyond 4,035 in 10 years for President Kibaki, who averaged 404 a year,” he stated.

He added that the Kibaki figure included post-election violence deaths, while the Uhuru-era figure stood at 4,150 over 10 years, an average of 415 a year.

And now, with approximately 300 days to the general election, it remains to be seen whether the Ruto administration will implement a policy shift in handling the ills afflicting Kenyans or whether it will double down on its excesses.