President Ruto outlines four Raila-inspired pillars to drive Kenya’s growth
President William Ruto said his discussions with Raila, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and other leaders from across political divides had strengthened his belief that Kenya’s development must be a collective, non-partisan effort.
President William Ruto has said Kenya’s transformation into a prosperous, developed nation will only be achieved through courageous and visionary leadership inspired by the late Raila Odinga’s lifelong ideals.
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations on Monday, Ruto reflected on his past engagements with Odinga and other national leaders, saying their shared vision was a Kenya driven by purpose, unity, and ambition beyond politics.
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He recalled how Odinga often questioned why Kenya had fallen behind countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, which were once on the same economic level. Ruto said the answer lay in leadership that plans for generations rather than elections.
“We both agreed that true leadership is about shaping the future, not chasing short-term gains,” Ruto said, adding that progress demands leaders who dare to dream and act boldly for the common good.
Ruto said his discussions with Raila, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and other leaders from across political divides had strengthened his belief that Kenya’s development must be a collective, non-partisan effort.
“Building this nation is not a political contest; it is a shared mission for all Kenyans,” he stated.
The President outlined four key areas that his administration will prioritise to elevate the country’s growth: food security, industrialisation, infrastructure, and energy.
Ruto said the government spends more than half a trillion shillings each year importing essential foods, a practice he described as economically unsustainable and a threat to sovereignty. To reverse this, he said the government is focused on expanding irrigation and modernising agriculture by constructing 50 mega dams to irrigate two million acres of land.
“Rain-fed farming cannot meet our needs. We must feed ourselves and become exporters of food within the next ten years,” Ruto emphasised.
On industrialisation, the President said Kenya must become a nation that produces and exports finished goods rather than raw materials.
He cited the Africa Growth and Industrialisation Initiative being implemented with the African Export-Import Bank, which will see the establishment of Special Economic Zones in Vipingo, Dongo Kundu, and Naivasha to promote manufacturing and create jobs.
He also highlighted the development of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks across all 47 counties to link farmers and small businesses with processors and markets.
“Everything produced in Kenya must be processed here; from tea and coffee to cotton and hides,” Ruto said, insisting that local industries should drive economic growth.
He added that the manufacturing agenda will rely heavily on reliable and affordable energy. The government plans to raise power generation from the current 2,300 megawatts to 10,000 megawatts within a decade.
Ruto said Raila had long been a strong voice for energy diversification through geothermal, solar, wind, and hydro sources during his time as Energy minister.
The President said the third pillar of national transformation is infrastructure, which he described as the backbone of economic development. He said the government will dual 1,000 kilometres of major highways, including the Rironi–Nakuru–Eldoret–Malaba, Makutano–Embu–Meru, and Mombasa–Nairobi roads, among others.
President Ruto added that plans are underway to tarmac an additional 10,000 kilometres of roads and extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba to connect Kenya with Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Some may think these targets are beyond reach, but this is the kind of visionary leadership Raila Odinga stood for,” Ruto said.
In recognition of Raila’s enduring influence and national service, Ruto announced that the government had conferred upon him the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (CGH), the country’s highest honour.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, I inscribe Raila Amolo Odinga’s name among Kenya’s greatest heroes,” Ruto declared, describing him as a patriot whose legacy would live for generations.
He concluded his address by urging Kenyans to carry forward Odinga’s spirit of courage, unity, and service to the country. “If we choose to put Kenya first, love our nation more than ourselves, and serve selflessly, we will become a country of 50 million heroes,” Ruto said.
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