Ruto acknowledges SHA, housing project have damaged his approval ratings

From left: ODM leader Raila Odinga, President William Ruto, and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the joint ODM-Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting in Karen, Nairobi, on August 18, 2025. (Photo: PCS)

By Lucy Mumbi
Monday, August 18, 2025

Ruto said the challenges he faces are self-imposed, insisting that these difficult decisions are necessary for Kenya’s long-term development.

President William Ruto has acknowledged that his unpopular reforms, including the Social Health Authority (SHA), affordable housing, and the new university funding model, have contributed to his current low approval ratings.

Speaking during a joint ODM-Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group meeting on Monday, Ruto said the challenges he faces are self-imposed, insisting that these difficult decisions are necessary for Kenya’s long-term development.

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“I have said that the difficulties that I face today as a president in Kenya are self-imposed. I imposed on myself all these difficulties implementing the new funding model, implementing SHA, implementing housing, doing all those things. If I hadn't done any of those, I would be a very popular person, but the country would not have moved anywhere,” Ruto said.

The president further defended his approach, noting that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga would have faced similar challenges had he been elected in 2022.

“I am confident that if Raila had become president, he would be doing what I'm doing. Yes, he would be implementing SHA. He would be implementing housing. He would be doing reforms in education. He will be doing reform in agriculture. I know that for a fact, because I have been in the school of leadership, that's the correct position, and he would be as unpopular or as he'd be having the same difficulties that I have today,” he said.

“But these are necessary for Kenya to change, friends. We cannot change the country otherwise, and that is why he has the courage to stand here and tell you, let us stop the extortion.”

He noted that very few leaders have shown the courage to confront criticism and push bold reforms.

“Very few leaders can stand here and tell you to stop the extortion that is going on in Parliament. I'm telling you the truth. Very few leaders because we like making peace with mediocrity,” he said.

The president highlighted the progress achieved in healthcare reforms, noting that bold steps by Parliament have begun addressing longstanding issues in the sector.

“I must commend the members of the National Assembly and Senate, because you took the courage and passed the bills that today are beginning to solve the problem of health in Kenya. It may not happen instantly, but you all can now see that there is a possibility we can sort out the challenge of health and health delivery in Kenya, but because we had to be bold and make the necessary decisions,” Ruto said.

He also vowed to tackle corruption in public health institutions, insisting that they must face the law.

“Today, we are dealing with the crooked hospitals and health professionals who still want to steal from SHA and from our health provision, and we will go after them, and we will deal with them,” he said.

Ruto urged MPs to seize the historic opportunity to transform Kenya, stressing that the country has the potential to match first-world nations.

“We have what it takes to measure up to countries in the first world. Yes, we do. But we are playing in the wrong league because leadership, you and I, are refusing to stand up to what this country needs,” he said.

The president’s remarks come as criticism mounts over his administration and the reforms undertaken. A recent survey by TIFA Research shows that 75 per cent of Kenyans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, while only 14 per cent think it is on the right path. Another 2 per cent were unsure, and 9 per cent said the country is neither headed in the right nor the wrong direction.