- Because we have many graduates from universities and colleges each year, President Ruto has strongly advocated for Kenyans to get jobs abroad.
- As a result, five labour agreements have since been signed, the latest between Kenya and Germany.
My readers, we need to have a candid conversation. In many ways, the government usually doesn’t get credit for what it has achieved because there is still a lot that needs to be done. It’s true Rome wasn’t built in a day, and that’s true for Kenya. Amidst all the challenges we face, there is something to celebrate as we reflect on the past two years of the Kenya Kwanza government.
To begin with, the cost of basic commodities has gone down significantly compared to when we took office. Inflation has remained at between five and six per cent, way within the target set out in THE BETA PLAN. This means price volatility has been contained against a very unstable macro-economic environment globally. In this regard, the government has been able to reduce the importation of food items such as sugar and maize, since we are now able to meet local demand. This translates into better incomes for our farmers. In fact, recently a senior government official of a neighbouring country was on the record, raising the concern that we are no longer importing eggs, sugar and other commodities from his country.
Such imports contributed to not only our balance of trade deficits, but they have also increased our demand for foreign currency. The country doesn’t have to borrow to feed itself. Indeed, the fact that the value of the Kenyan shilling to the dollar has remained stable from a high of 162 to the current 130 is highly commendable. Our currency has been ranked as amongst the best performing globally together with Argentina’s. In this regard, our dollar-denominated public debt has been reduced by nearly a trillion shilling, especially due to the fact the government was able to pay the Eurobond by June this year, when many people expected us to default!
Given the circumstances, the Kenya Kwanza government has done a lot, given the dire state the country was in when it took over. For example, fuel shortage was the order of the day, but with the introduction of the government-to-government procurement, this is a thing of the past, with motorists experiencing stable pump prices. In addition, local production of goods and services has increased significantly, with 169 construction items such as tiles and other ceramics being manufactured locally. In fact, the number of Tvet institutions participating in the dual learning programme that links school to industry has increased from 65 in 2022, to 1,800 today. This means that more and more of our students are able to combine both practice and theory to ensure their skills acquired are relevant to market needs to support the government’s industrialisation strategy.
Moreover, tallying with the government’s efforts in recognising prior learning by issuing certificates to artisans in the affordable housing programme, President William Ruto launched the Open University of Kenya that has enrolled 3,289 students. This means more Kenyans can improve their academic qualifications as they continue to earn a living.
The fact that the government has been able to roll out the Competency Based Curriculum, with the construction of new classrooms, and the employment of over 56 teachers in the Junior Secondary Schools, is a big achievement helping ensure the future of our children is firmly secured. Further, efforts by the government to increase the roll out and funding to the school feeding programme has caused enrollment rise in many counties, starting with Nairobi, as the pupils are assured of a meal once they show up in the morning.
Because we have many graduates from universities and colleges each year, President Ruto has strongly advocated for Kenyans to get jobs abroad. As a result, five labour agreements have since been signed, the latest between Kenya and Germany. This has led to an increase in overseas job placements from 14,651 Kenyans in 2022, to 202,125 persons in 2024, including 585 nurses. Direct earnings from these jobs are more than Sh514 billion, making it the number one foreign exchange earner for our country. Many homes across the country are being supported to meet their basic needs, over and above acquiring family assets and the pursuit of education by their relatives abroad.
THE BETA PLAN puts serious emphasis on cultivating a savings culture since in 2022, we were saving only seven per cent of our earnings as a country, compared to countries such as China which does it at 55 percent. This largely explains why such countries can lend money to many other nations. As a result of this intentional policy framework, the monthly contributions of the National Social Security Fund, have increased from Sh1.4 billion in 2022 to Sh6.5 billion in 2024, translating to more than Sh78 billion, monies that can be re-invested into other highly impactful sectors of the economy.
Dear readers, we are on a very robust trajectory into making Kenya a true middle-class economy under the government of President Ruto.
It is possible!