President William Ruto delivered a message of hope to struggling Kenyans on Sunday, declaring that his administration’s controversial economic reforms are finally bearing fruit and promising tangible relief from the high cost of living.
Speaking during the official opening of the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Pipeline in Embakasi, Nairobi County, where he also attended a prayer service, the President painted an optimistic picture of Kenya’s economic trajectory.
“For the first time in a long while, Kenya is not guessing. We are not drifting. We are not gambling,” Ruto told congregants.
“We have set our targets. We have begun the journey.”
The President’s remarks come as his administration faces mounting pressure to deliver on campaign promises to reduce the financial burden on ordinary Kenyans.
Recent economic indicators suggest some progress, with inflation dropping from a high of 9.6% in October 2022 to 4.5% by the end of 2025.
Ruto emphasized that difficult decisions made early in his tenure, including fiscal consolidation measures and subsidy reforms, were necessary to stabilize the economy and create conditions for sustainable growth.
“The decisive measures we took in 2023 and 2024 were aimed at stabilizing and turning around the economy,” the President said in his recent New Year address.
“Looking back, 2025 was the year when those deliberate, often demanding choices began to pay off.”
In a significant move to ease household budgets, Ruto recently announced that Kenyans earning Sh30,000 and below will be exempt from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes, up from the current threshold of Sh24,000.
“We are now saying that any Kenyan who earns less than Sh30,000 will not pay any taxes,” Ruto stated.
“One and a half million working Kenyans will not pay any taxes, and another 500,000 will have their taxes reduced to 25 per cent.”
The President framed these measures as part of his “Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” designed to put more money directly into the pockets of low and middle-income earners.
“This is how, progressively, we will manage the cost of living,” he added. “Bottom Up was not just a slogan.”
While the President expressed confidence in Kenya’s economic direction, opposition voices remain skeptical.
Critics point to continued struggles with unemployment, rising debt levels, and delayed implementation of key programs.
However, government data shows some positive trends: nearly a million Kenyans have accessed jobs through housing initiatives, labor mobility programs, and the digital economy.
The Central Bank of Kenya has also cut the base lending rate multiple times, from 13% to 9.25%, making credit more accessible.
Ruto has declared 2026 a “watershed year” for Kenya, promising accelerated infrastructure development, expanded digital employment opportunities, and continued health and education reforms.
“2026 will be a turning point in our march from promise to prosperity,” the President said.
“A year that future generations will look back on and say Kenya changed course.”
As Kenyans navigate ongoing economic challenges, the President’s message from the pulpit at AIC Pipeline was clear: patience with tough reforms will yield dividends, and relief is on the horizon.
Whether voters agree when they head to the polls in 2027 remains to be seen.
