President William Ruto is preparing to lead a major two-day National Executive Retreat that will bring together the top leadership of the Executive arm of government.
The retreat will focus on Kenya’s struggling economy and the worsening unemployment crisis. It will begin on Thursday, June 19, and continue through Friday, June 20.
Those expected to attend include President Ruto himself, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, all Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and other top-ranking officials in the government.
This high-level meeting comes at a time when tensions in the country are rising again, with fresh protests erupting, echoing last year’s unrest over the controversial Finance Bill. The latest demonstrations were sparked by the death of popular social media influencer Albert Ojwang.
The protests, mostly centered in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), quickly turned violent after criminal elements infiltrated the crowds.
The situation escalated when a mask hawker named Boniface Kariuki was reportedly shot at point-blank range by police officers, triggering public outrage.
Despite the unrest, Cabinet Secretary Mercy Wanjau emphasized that the upcoming retreat is an important moment for the government to reflect on its performance and plan for the future. She described the gathering as an opportunity to assess the government’s progress halfway through its term.
“The 3rd National Executive Retreat will offer a vital moment to evaluate the progress made so far, assess the impact of government efforts, and determine the necessary adjustments to improve service delivery,” Wanjau said in a public statement.
She further added, “The key question we will be asking ourselves is: how have our efforts impacted the lives of ordinary Kenyans, and where do we need to redirect our focus to achieve better results?”
Wanjau pointed out that unemployment would be one of the key issues on the agenda. She expressed concern over the slow pace of job creation, especially for the youth and vulnerable groups.
Citing the 2025 Economic Survey, she noted that the recovery of the labour market has fallen short of expectations, calling it a “serious concern” that requires urgent attention.
Another top priority of the retreat will be the state of the economy. According to Wanjau, the government is facing growing fiscal pressures, which are making it increasingly difficult to implement key development programmes.
She said the 2025 Economic Survey offers a clear picture of the areas where progress has been slow or ambitions remain unmet.
“The findings remind us that although we have made some meaningful progress, there’s still a long journey ahead to achieve the lasting changes we promised,” she stated.
While economic recovery and job creation are expected to dominate discussions, many are also waiting to see whether President Ruto will directly address the recent shooting of Boniface Kariuki and the nationwide protests being organized for Wednesday, June 25.
These protests are meant to honour the Gen Z protesters who were killed during last year’s demonstrations.
The upcoming retreat is likely to draw public attention, not just for its policy decisions, but also for how the Executive responds to growing frustrations on the ground.
With the mood in the country becoming increasingly tense, Kenyans are hoping for clear solutions and responsible leadership from the top.
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