President William Ruto has described 2024 as a remarkable year marked by significant challenges and opportunities that tested Kenya’s resilience but also spurred progress and determination.
Speaking in his New Year address at Kisii State Lodge on Tuesday, President Ruto noted that the year presented obstacles including economic instability, security threats, climate challenges, and political uncertainties.
Despite these adversities, he highlighted the country’s ability to confront and overcome these issues with resolve and unity.
"Without hesitation, we all agree that this year has been remarkable. A year to remember for its many challenges, obstacles and risks that tested our resolve and threatened our prosperity, security and happiness. Equally, it has been a year of numerous opportunities, successes and progress's that enables us overcome this and forge ahead with heroic determination," he said.
The Head of State reflected on how global economic shocks, driven by conflicts and disrupted supply chains, led to inflation and a rising cost of living.
He also pointed to climatic changes and political instability as factors that created widespread uncertainty.
"The year began with strong faith and optimism despite a climate of hardship, uncertainty, and widespread anxiety. Security, economic instability, climatic challenges, and political uncertainty loomed large. Global economic shocks drove up the cost of living, while conflicts disrupted supply chains, creating scarcity and rising inflation," he said.
Ruto said at the time, the country was striving to recover from the pandemic’s disruptions and the currency, the shilling, faced significant pressure from major currencies.
"Many families struggled to provide daily meals as agriculture grappled with the aftermath of the region’s longest and harshest drought, followed by devastating floods that destroyed crops, livestock, infrastructure, and development," Ruto said.
At the year’s onset, Ruto said, parents were anxious about the transition of young learners into junior secondary school while the youth grappled with increasing difficulties in finding employment.
"In various parts of the country, perennial security challenges persisted. Additionally, demands for adequate, high-quality, and sustainable food, healthcare, and education not only persisted but grew even more pressing."
Ruto said with all that, the state had to find ways of mobilising sufficient revenue to finance all obligations, provide services inclusively and consistently, and invest in development.
He said it called for tough decisions, not just to reduce waste and increase efficiency in the mobilisation and utilisation of public finances but also to promote broader compliance with our civic obligations to pay taxes whenever they fall due.
"Despite these challenges, we have worked tirelessly to fulfil the pledges and commitments of our governing mandate. We are making steady progress in feeding the nation, with productivity rising across key crop and livestock value chains, progressively enhancing our food security objectives," he said.
