- President William Ruto claims nearly two million Kenyans have secured jobs since he took office in 2022
- Ruto attributed the employment figures to affordable housing, digital jobs and labour export programmes
- The president also highlighted changes in farmers' earnings, teacher recruitment and healthcare funding during his Eldoret rally
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President William Ruto has claimed that his administration has helped nearly two million Kenyans secure jobs since he took office in 2022.
Source: Facebook
Speaking at a rally in Eldoret on Saturday, October 17, Ruto defended his government's economic agenda, arguing that deliberate investments are creating employment opportunities for young people and improving incomes across the country.
The president highlighted the Affordable Housing Programme, digital work initiatives and labour export agreements as some of the measures his administration is using to tackle unemployment.
How has Ruto's government created jobs?
Ruto said housing construction, including affordable homes, markets and student hostels, is providing work for approximately 1.1 million Kenyans.
The jobs, he explained, range from skilled positions for engineers and other professionals to opportunities for carpenters, masons and casual labourers working at construction sites.
He added that about 300,000 young Kenyans have secured digital jobs, while another 680,000 have been sent abroad through labour export programmes.
“I told you that we were going to have an intentional, deliberate agenda on how to create jobs for the young people of Kenya. Today, housing, markets, hostels is hiring 1.1 million Kenyans from every part of Kenya,” Ruto said.
“Close to 2 million people who did not have jobs in 2022, have jobs today because we have a plan,” he added.
However, Ruto's remarks did not provide a detailed breakdown showing how many jobs were newly created, how many were temporary construction positions or how the figures were independently verified.
What did Ruto say about farmers' earnings?
The president also pointed to changes in agricultural earnings, arguing that government support for farmers had helped improve incomes.
He cited subsidised fertiliser, saying its price had fallen from KSh 7,000 to KSh 2,000 per bag. He also compared farm-gate prices for milk, coffee and tea with what farmers received previously.
“Today, as I stand in this city, our plan to transform agriculture is on course. Fertiliser, which previously sold for KSh 7,000, now costs KSh 2,000. Farmers who used to sell milk at KSh 35 now earn upwards of KSh 50. Coffee, which previously sold for KSh 60, now fetches between KSh 120 and KSh 150. Similarly, tea that farmers used to sell at KSh 30 now fetches upwards of KSh 56,” Ruto said.
The president further announced that sugarcane farmers will receive bonuses in November, while the government continues efforts to revive sugar factories that had collapsed, particularly in western Kenya and Nyanza.
“We can say, without any fear of contradiction, that today, agriculture is paying, putting money in the pockets of farmers and citizens of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.
What did Ruto say about Kenya's economy?
Ruto also defended his administration's management of the economy, saying it had inherited a difficult financial situation in 2022 but had since stabilised key indicators, including inflation and the exchange rate.
He described Kenya as Africa's sixth-largest economy and maintained that the country is now on a stronger economic footing.
The president also highlighted the government's healthcare reforms, saying the Social Health Authority (SHA) has expanded registration compared with the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
According to Ruto, the number of registered members have grown from about eight million under the previous system to 33 million under SHA. He further claimed that the authority has disbursed KSh 13 billion to health facilities in Uasin Gishu County over the last one year to settle medical bills.
What did Ruto announce about education?
On education, the president said his administration has employed 100,000 teachers, with another 20,000 expected to be recruited.
He defended the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the higher education funding model, saying the government intends to ensure that students' access to education is not determined solely by their parents' financial circumstances.
Ruto said a revised higher education funding arrangement is expected to take effect in January 2027, covering universities, colleges, technical and vocational education and training institutions, and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
Turning to politics, Ruto urged residents to reject tribal divisions and assess leaders based on their development records and plans for the country.
He criticised opposition leaders, accusing them of lacking a clear agenda for Kenya's future, and urged voters to make informed choices ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The rally was attended by several leaders, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, Homa Bay Governor and ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga, Kisii Governor Simba Arati and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, among others.
Ruto's visit formed part of his 10-day development tour of the North Rift, ahead of the Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret. The national event is being co-hosted by Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties.
Source: TUKO.co.ke