NAIROBI, KENYA – Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has called on Kenyan leaders to adopt President William Ruto’s work ethic and policy direction, positioning his administration's agenda as the definitive path to national growth. Speaking on Sunday, November 9, 2025, during a presidential function in Maralal, Wahome praised Ruto as a dedicated leader whose example, if followed, would significantly advance the country.

“Our president is a worker. If we could adopt the culture of our president and work with dedication in our respective stations, then Kenya will be in a good place,” Wahome stated, urging public servants to mirror the Head of State's commitment.

Wahome, a lawyer and former three-term Member of Parliament for Kandara Constituency, has been a staunch defender of the Kenya Kwanza administration's policies. Her remarks serve as a robust endorsement of the government's controversial but ambitious economic strategies, particularly those falling under her ministerial purview, such as the Affordable Housing Programme.

The Ruto Blueprint: BETA and Tax Reforms

At the core of President Ruto's strategy is the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), a framework designed to stimulate growth by focusing on grassroots sectors. BETA prioritizes five key pillars: Agriculture, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Housing and Settlement, Healthcare, and the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy. The administration argues these targeted investments are crucial for creating jobs, eradicating hunger, and expanding the tax base.

Under this agenda, the government reports significant strides in agriculture, with subsidized fertilizer leading to a 38.9% increase in maize production. In education, 56,000 new teachers have been hired. However, these initiatives have been financed through contentious tax measures, including the Finance Act 2023 and the reinstated 1.5% housing levy, which have drawn sharp criticism for straining household incomes.

The Housing Levy: A Contentious Cornerstone

As the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Wahome is a key figure in implementing the Affordable Housing Programme, a central component of the BETA plan. The government promotes the initiative as a dual-purpose solution to the national housing deficit and high youth unemployment, projecting the creation of over 140,000 jobs. President Ruto has consistently framed the levy not just as a housing solution, but as a critical job creation engine.

Despite this, the levy has faced legal challenges and public opposition. Critics, including the Azimio la Umoja coalition led by Raila Odinga, argue that the mandatory deductions place an unfair burden on already over-taxed Kenyans struggling with a high cost of living. In a statement that fueled public debate, CS Wahome clarified that contributing to the levy is a tax and does not guarantee home ownership, but rather enables the broader housing agenda.

Economic Realities and Projections

Wahome's call for emulation of the president's example comes against a mixed economic backdrop. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) projects steady economic growth of around 5.4% to 5.5% for 2025, supported by strong performance in the agricultural and services sectors. Inflation has also stabilized within the CBK's target range of 2.5%-7.5%.

However, the country's public debt remains a significant concern. As of September 2025, Kenya's public debt stood at approximately KSh 12.06 trillion (around $93.3 billion), representing 67.3% of GDP. The National Treasury has acknowledged that while the debt is sustainable, it carries a heightened risk of distress. A significant portion of the national budget is allocated to debt servicing, with Sh1.09 trillion earmarked for repayments in the 2025-26 fiscal year, crowding out other development expenditures.

Opposition and Public Sentiment

The opposition has consistently criticized the Kenya Kwanza administration's reliance on taxation. Azimio leader Raila Odinga has accused President Ruto of frustrating ordinary Kenyans with burdensome taxes instead of finding alternative revenue-generating measures to ease the high cost of living. These sentiments have been echoed in public protests and widespread discontent over the financial pressures facing households.

Wahome's endorsement of President Ruto's leadership is therefore not just a statement of support but a defense of a contested economic philosophy. It frames the administration's policies as necessary sacrifices for long-term prosperity, a narrative that continues to be tested by the daily economic realities faced by the Kenyan public.