President William Ruto has dismissed criticism of the government’s economic record, accusing sections of the media and political commentators of advancing a negative narrative despite official data showing continued economic expansion.

Speaking on Thursday in Bomet county, Ruto said Kenya was changing for the better and would not be defined by what he described as negative headlines and selective analysis.

“You can have as much debate as you want; you can write as many headlines as you want; you can release as many reports but the truth will not change,” he said.

His remarks came a day after the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released the 2026 economic survey, which showed that Kenya’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.6 per cent in 2025, a slight slowdown from 4.7 per cent in 2024. The report also showed that the economy had expanded by 5.7 per cent in 2023, meaning growth has moderated over the last two years, even as the government maintains that key sectors remain on a recovery path.

The figures have triggered debate over the performance of Ruto’s administration, with some analysts arguing that the economy has slowed compared with earlier expectations. The 2025 growth rate was also below the National Treasury’s earlier projection of 5.0 per cent, although the economy still recorded positive growth across major sectors including agriculture, construction, mining and quarrying.

Ruto, however, insisted that the government’s record should be judged by changes in the cost of basic commodities, public service delivery, infrastructure, housing, education and health reforms.

“We have made a difference in universal health coverage, agriculture, education, and housing, and we are transforming the Republic of Kenya. I want to assure the citizens of this nation that, in our lifetime, Kenya will be a first-world economy,” he said.

The president said his administration had inherited high food prices, stalled projects and major gaps in essential services, but had made measurable progress within three years.

“The truth of the matter is that unga was Sh250 and now it is between Sh120 and Sh140. We had a teachers’ shortage of 116,000; we have employed 100,000. All our roads had stalled, now 6,000 kilometres are under construction. Fertiliser was about Sh7,000, today it is Sh2,500. Our housing policy had never taken off beyond the paper it has been written on; now have built 240,000 units,” he said.

The economic survey places Ruto’s performance in a mixed context. Growth in 2023, his first full year in office, stood at 5.7 per cent, supported largely by recovery in agriculture after drought conditions eased. It then slowed to 4.7 per cent in 2024 and 4.6 per cent in 2025.

By comparison, Central Bank of Kenya data shows that during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term, annual growth fluctuated from 3.8 per cent in 2013 to 5.6 per cent in 2018, 5.1 per cent in 2019, a contraction of 0.3 per cent in 2020 during the Covid-19 shock, a rebound of 7.6 per cent in 2021, and 4.9 per cent in 2022.

During the late President Mwai Kibaki’s final years, growth rose from 2.9 per cent in 2003 to 6.9 per cent in 2007, fell to 1.5 per cent in 2008 after the post-election crisis, and recovered to 8.1 per cent in 2010 before easing to 4.6 per cent in 2012.

The President also used the occasion to defend the broad-based government arrangement he formed with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying national unity remains central to his agenda.

“My commitment is to bring all Kenyans, from all ethnicities and regions together, and eliminate tribalism, hate and marginalisation so that we move forward as one people,” he said.

On development projects in the region, Ruto said he will return to Bomet and Kericho to launch the construction of two modern stadia. He also said he will hand over completed affordable housing units in Bomet town and launch construction of 2,000 new units.

On healthcare, he commended Bomet residents for registering in large numbers under the Social Health Authority, saying the county had recorded one of the highest enrolment rates in the country.

“Hardly 50,000 people in Bomet were registered under the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund. But today, 660,000 people are enrolled under SHA,” he said.

The president added that construction of airstrips in the two counties was progressing and would be completed soon.

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