-
Kenya: Can Ruto Convince Kenyans On the Economy? Hits and Misses Ahead of Annual Address
Capital FM, 20 November 2025
President William Ruto heads to Parliament on Thursday for his State of the Nation Address amid mounting pressure over economic performance, revenue collection gaps, debt repayment… Read more »
Ruto Faces Economic Scrutiny Ahead of Kenya's SONA Address
President William Ruto is set to deliver his State of the Nation Address as pressure over economic performance, revenue collection gaps, and debt repayment strains grows along with increasing queries about the credibility of his bottom-up transformation agenda.
As he prepares to defend his record, Ruto's economic scorecard is weighed down by deep structural trade-offs that now hang over his ability to deliver on his promised economic turnaround. He faces the challenge of defending his bottom-up economic agenda, acknowledging fiscal vulnerabilities, and presenting a credible long-term reform strategy capable of sustaining growth, investment, and public confidence.
The World Bank's May 2025 economic outlook warned that Kenya remains at "high risk of debt distress" despite modest reforms. Ruto faces the challenge of defending his bottom-up economic agenda, acknowledging fiscal vulnerabilities, and presenting a credible long-term reform strategy that can sustain growth, investment, and public confidence.
President William Ruto reviewing his State of the Nation Address at State House Nairobi ahead of Thursday’s speech to Parliament.
InFocus
-
President William Ruto has said Kenya's democracy is "not about a person, but about the people." In an interview with Al Jazeera in Doha, Ruto said democratic values are ingrained in Kenya's national identity, distancing the country from regional concerns over democratic decline.
He contrasted Kenya's system with neighboring nations, noting that election results like Tanzania's 98%
Read more »
