President William Ruto has declared that Kenya is entering a rare window of opportunity that could shape its economic future for decades, saying recent gains in economic stability and Africa's growing influence on the global stage have created the right conditions for the country to chart its next phase of development.
Addressing the nation during his special State of the Nation address, Ruto said the country had made steady progress in rebuilding its economy over the last four years and was now better prepared to benefit from changing global and continental economic trends.
"I believe we are on the threshold of one such historic moment," Ruto said.
The President said four major developments had convinced him that Kenya was approaching a defining period, beginning with what he described as the successful restoration of economic stability.
According to Ruto, the government has strengthened the economy by stabilising the Kenyan shilling, increasing foreign exchange reserves to more than $15 billion, enough to cover 6.5 months of imports, while also lowering inflation and reducing the cost of borrowing.
"Because we have restored stability, rebuilt investor confidence and laid a firm foundation for our economy, now is the perfect opportunity for Kenya to begin shaping the next phase of our national development," he said.
He said the stronger economic environment had boosted investor confidence, helping Kenya attract a record $3.2 billion in foreign direct investment last year, more than twice the amount recorded in 2022.
Ruto also pointed to Kenya's performance in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, saying the country had emerged as Africa's most competitive economy.
He added that the establishment of the National Infrastructure Fund and the sovereign wealth fund would help secure the country's long-term development agenda.
"These institutions represent more than new opportunities. They embody a philosophy of nation building that lasting prosperity is built through institutions that outlive governments," he said.
The President said the nearing conclusion of Vision 2030 also presented Kenya with an opportunity to begin preparing a new long-term national development framework that would guide the country's future.
Ruto further argued that Africa's growing economic importance offered another reason for optimism, saying the continent was becoming increasingly central to global economic growth.
"The next great wave of economic transformation will, I believe, be African," he said.
He said Africa's youthful population, renewable energy resources, agricultural capacity and growing interest from international investors placed the continent in a strong position to drive future global growth.
"Nine of the world's fastest-growing economies are in Africa, and by 2050, one in every four people on Earth will be African," Ruto said.
While acknowledging that Kenya had not fully benefited from earlier global economic shifts, the President said the country now had a fresh opportunity to change that.
"While we may not have taken full advantage of the previous three great waves of global transformation, we have a historic moment and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said.
Ruto called on Kenyans to look beyond today's political debates and economic pressures and instead focus on preparing the country to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.