President William Ruto pushes a wheelbarrow at Mukuru slum slums on May 20, 2025. PHOTO/PCS.Ruto also commended Kenyan leaders in the broad-based government over what it described as a bold and transformative
approach to reshaping the country’s future.
Speaking on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Mukuru slums, Ruto said he was proud of the progress made under his administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, acknowledging the tough choices it has required.
He credited the collective political will, including support from across the aisle, for driving visible results.
“I must thank leaders from across the political divide, more particularly Raila Odinga, for agreeing that this country requires the unity of the nation and the coming together of citizens and leaders to work together for the citizens of Kenya,” Ruto said.
The President emphasised that Kenya's
transformation is rooted in difficult but necessary decisions.
“When we said bottom-up transformation, we meant bottom-up transformation,” he said.
“We knew it was going to be difficult, we knew it was not going to be easy, but we made the choices and the results are there for everybody to see.”
Ruto urged Kenyans to believe in their country and its potential, warning that self-doubt would render the country’s hard-won independence meaningless.
“I want to encourage us to believe in our country, to believe in ourselves, to believe in Kenya,” he said.
“If we don’t believe in ourselves, we will let down our nation.”
Vowing to continue leading from the front, Ruto distanced himself from divisive politics and said his administration would only walk with “courageous leaders” who are committed to Kenya’s progress.
In a veiled swipe at his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, President Ruto said he will continue leading from the front and that he will not work with "tribalists".
“We don’t share a vision with the tribalists, with the haters, and those who believe in the disunity of our nation,” he declared.
“We share a vision with the people who believe in the unity of Kenya, in a broad-based arrangement and a broad-based government which brings Kenyans together.”
