He opened by expressing deep appreciation for Kenya’s founding heroes, while also posing a question to the nation: Have we lived up to the responsibility they entrusted to us?
Ruto reminded Kenyans that Jamhuri Day is more than a date on the calendar it is a tribute to the courage and sacrifice that won the country its independence.
He reflected on the enormous cost paid by freedom fighters who endured detention, violence, and exile so that Kenya could be free.
Their unity and determination, he said, laid the foundation for a nation built on liberty and democracy.
Although today’s challenges are different, Ruto stressed that the lesson remains the same: Kenyans must rise to meet the demands of their time, just like the founding generation did.
He quoted the country’s early leaders Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Tom Mboya who warned that independence would be meaningless if it did not improve the lives of ordinary citizens. They believed the true struggle would be against poverty, disease, and ignorance.
Ruto acknowledged that even after independence, Kenya’s journey wasn’t smooth.
Power became concentrated, dissent was punished, and fear replaced hope. But again, Kenyans stood up, pushing for democracy and human rights.
During this part of the speech, Ruto highlighted the role of the late Raila Odinga, praising him for his lifelong fight for justice, democracy, and freedom. The president asked the nation to observe a minute of silence in Raila’s honour.
Ruto then turned to the 2010 Constitution, calling it a people-centered charter that guaranteed economic and social rights like education, healthcare, and housing.
However, he admitted that Kenya still hasn’t fully delivered on these promises, with many citizens still marginalised and struggling.
He argued that this gap is what inspired his administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
According to Ruto, the plan focuses on uplifting those long excluded from economic progress particularly smallholder farmers, young people, and low-income families.
He highlighted several achievements of his administration:
Agriculture: A national digital database now captures details of 7.2 million farmers. Fertiliser prices have dropped, and production of key crops like maize, tea, coffee, and sugar has improved.
Education: 76,000 teachers have been hired, with the number expected to hit 100,000 soon.
Thousands of classrooms and laboratories have been built, and nearly half a million students have received funding under the new needs-based model.
Healthcare: 110,000 community health promoters have been deployed, 28 million Kenyans registered under the new Social Health Authority, and vulnerable groups now benefit from government-paid healthcare.
Housing & Infrastructure: Over 240,000 affordable houses, thousands of student hostels, institutional housing, and hundreds of markets are under construction, creating nearly half a million jobs.
Youth Empowerment: Millions have been trained in digital skills, thousands have secured jobs abroad, and the NYOTA Programme is providing training and capital for young entrepreneurs.
Ruto also claimed that the economy has stabilised significantly citing lower inflation, a stronger shilling, higher foreign reserves, and improved investor confidence.
He then outlined a bold vision for Kenya’s future, anchored on becoming a first-world economy.
This includes massive transport upgrades roads, rail, airports, ports, and oil pipelines alongside a shift from being an import-heavy economy to becoming a major exporter.
The president concluded by urging Kenyans to believe in themselves, embrace excellence, and charge forward with confidence.
Just as the independence generation delivered political freedom, Ruto said it is now this generation’s responsibility to deliver economic freedom.
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