President William Ruto has urged Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to support his administration’s development agenda, saying Kenya can rise to the league of first-world economies within a generation if leaders work together.
Addressing the annual County Assemblies Forum meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on Thursday, Ruto called on MCAs to back the proposed National Infrastructure Fund, which he said would unlock financing for dams, airports, roads and expanded electricity access across the country.
“I am asking for your partnership to change Kenya; it is doable; it is possible,” he said.
Ruto said leadership requires difficult but necessary decisions focused on long-term national progress rather than short-term popularity.
“We are not elected to be popular; we are elected to do the right things for our nation; to make the right decisions for Kenya,” he said.
He added that some leaders focus on positions instead of service.
On the economy, the President said key indicators point to recovery, citing low inflation, a stable exchange rate and increased foreign exchange reserves at the Central Bank of Kenya.
He noted that the Central Bank recently reduced the Central Bank Rate from 9 per cent to 8.75 per cent, signalling a gradual decline in commercial lending rates.
“Last week the Central Bank of Kenya reduced the Central Bank Rate, which is the anchor for commercial banks’ interest rates, from 9 per cent to 8.75 per cent, signalling the coming down of interest rates in Kenya,” he said.
As a result, he said, the country now has fiscal space to resume development programmes that had stalled in recent years due to economic constraints.
Ruto expressed gratitude to the county governments and county assemblies for collaborating with the National Government on key initiatives, including the subsidised fertiliser programme.
On health reforms, he asked MCAs to mobilise residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) so they can benefit from free government healthcare.
He also urged them to monitor health facilities and report any that continue to charge patients for outpatient services that are meant to be free.
Responding to issues raised by MCAs, Ruto said his administration supports the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s recommendation to reclassify their job groups from D4 to E2 in recognition of their responsibilities and workload.
He also backed the County Assemblies Pension Scheme Bill and the Ward Development Fund, both currently before Parliament.
“As the National Government, we support the inclusion of the Ward Development Fund in the proposed constitutional amendment framework alongside other protected funds, including the National Government Constituency Development Fund, National Government Affirmative Action Fund and the Senate Oversight Fund, so that ward-level development is legally secured and stable,” he said.
In addition, the President expressed support for efforts to formally recognise the County Assemblies Forum in law through the ongoing amendment of the Intergovernmental Relations Act.
He said closer cooperation between national and county leaders would be critical in delivering development and transforming the country’s economic prospects.
The meeting was attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Principal Secretaries, Members of Parliament and MCAs from across the country.
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