President William Ruto has strongly defended his push to transform Kenya into a first-world economy, insisting that two major funds approved by Cabinet will be key in lifting millions of Kenyans out of poverty and driving long-term growth.
Speaking in Turkana County during the Tobong’u Lore cultural festival on Tuesday , the President said the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund will provide the financial backbone for his economic plan, targeting more than 10 million Kenyans who currently live below the poverty line. He said the approval of the funds marked the beginning of a major shift in how the government finances development.
“Hiyo plan ya 5 trillion tulianza jana. By next year, we will be halfway. We want to lift over 10 million from poverty in Kenya. 80% of Turkana is living below the poverty line. We have set aside a Sh1.5 trillion budget to build dams in Kenya,” he said.
Ruto said the funds would lay a strong base for infrastructure and resource development, with Turkana expected to play a central role. He announced that the government had approved the field development plan for oil discovered in the county and committed to starting extraction within the next year as part of resource mobilisation for the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
“Jana tulipitisha ile field development plan ya ile mafuta hapa Turkana. Serikali itatoa mafuta hii Turkana ni hii yetu. Kufika December 2026, December next year, malori ianze kutoka hapa kubeba mafuta kwa sababu tunataka kuweka rasilimali ya Turkana County. Nimesema, which year? Na mimi si mwendawazimu. I know what I am saying,” he stated.
The President further said Parliament will be called for a special sitting early next year to approve the oil field development plan, assuring residents that the process would move quickly.
“January tutakuwa na emergency Bunge ya kupitisha hiyo field development plan. By December mko sawa,” Ruto said.
He then shifted focus to the opposition, taking aim at Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, whom he accused of lacking a clear development agenda. Ruto questioned Kalonzo’s record on infrastructure in the Ukambani region, especially road construction.
“Kama huwezi kujenga barabara ya kwako, utatengeneza ya watu wengine aje? In 40 years hujajenga barabara ya kwenda kwako. Unahitaji miaka mia ngapi kujenga barabara ya kwenda kwa Wakenya wengine? Si utahitaji miaka 1000?” he posed.
The Tobong’u Lore festival, where the President spoke, is an annual cultural event in Turkana County that brings together the Turkana community and neighbouring groups to celebrate heritage, culture and unity.
Earlier on Sunday, while speaking at the Africa Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa Karuri in Gatundu North Diocese in Kiambu County, Ruto offered more details on the Sh5 trillion plan, saying it would finance the country’s transformation and push Kenya to a higher economic level.
He said the funds would support the expansion and improvement of major infrastructure projects across the country, including the dualling of 2,500 kilometres of highways, tarmacking of 28,000 kilometres of roads, expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, upgrades at Mombasa and Lamu ports, and the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to the Uganda border.
