Ruto Defends Push to Complete Key Government Projects in ‘Wantam’
President William Ruto has reiterated his commitment to fulfill all the promises he made to Kenyans, especially those outlined during his first term in office.
Despite growing criticism and mounting pressure from some quarters urging him to leave office after just one term—mainly due to unpopular policies like increased taxes, incidents of police brutality, and cases of forced disappearances—Ruto remains adamant that his government will not shy away from making crucial decisions to improve infrastructure and deliver services.
During a cabinet retreat held in Karen, Nairobi, which brought together top government officials, the President strongly criticized those opposing his development agenda.
He made it clear that he has no plans to abandon the pledges he made to Kenyans during the last campaign season.
Ruto emphasized that his administration intends to fulfill every promise in its manifesto and will not delay development initiatives in anticipation of a second term.
“I have no intention of walking away from any of the commitments we made,” Ruto said. “We plan to fulfill them because that’s the only way to truly transform Kenya.
People say we promised too much, but I disagree—we made realistic promises that are achievable, and we are determined to deliver on them.”
He went on to explain that waiting until a possible second term to tackle major issues would be a waste of precious time. “Some people have told me, ‘You’ve taken on too many tough tasks; you should have waited until your second term.’
But I ask, why postpone? If I get a second term, there will still be a lot to do. Let’s handle the hard things now.”
The President has faced backlash for rolling out a number of mandatory deductions that have placed a heavy financial burden on many households. One such policy is the Housing Levy, introduced under the Finance Act of 2023.
It requires all salaried workers to contribute a portion of their income towards the government’s Affordable Housing Programme.
Other deductions include the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHA), which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in 2024, and the revised National Social Security Fund (NSSF) rates, which were introduced in early 2023 after a court ruling favored the government’s proposal to increase retirement savings.
These deductions have sparked widespread protests and legal battles, with many accusing the government of unfairly burdening ordinary Kenyans during an already difficult economic period.
There has also been growing anger over rising cases of police brutality, alleged extrajudicial killings, and concerns that constitutional checks and balances are being eroded. This unrest has led to increased calls for Ruto to resign.
Despite the criticism, the President remained firm, saying that true development requires difficult choices and that his administration would not abandon key infrastructure and social projects. He believes that these programs are essential for the country’s long-term success.
At the same time, the government is using the three-day cabinet retreat to evaluate the progress of major government programs and projects. According to Mercy Wanjau, the Secretary to the Cabinet, the meeting is intended to provide a midterm review of the Executive’s performance.
“The upcoming 3rd National Executive Retreat will be an opportunity to assess our progress, measure the impact of our policies, and make informed choices on the way forward,” Wanjau wrote in an opinion piece published in a local newspaper on Wednesday.
Wanjau also suggested that the retreat will focus on the country’s employment situation, which she described as “below expectations.”
She referred to findings from the 2025 Economic Survey, which revealed that the job market is recovering more slowly than expected, especially for young people and vulnerable communities who make up the majority of the population.
“This is an urgent issue that we must address,” she emphasized, calling for immediate action to tackle youth unemployment and improve economic opportunities for all.
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