President Outlines Ambitious Transformation Agenda

NAIROBI, Kenya – In his third State of the Nation address delivered to a joint session of Parliament on Thursday, November 20, 2025, President William Ruto declared that his administration has successfully stabilized a national economy previously in “severe distress.” [5] The address, which began at approximately 2:30 PM EAT, detailed a narrative of recovery and laid out a KSh 5 trillion, decade-long blueprint aimed at transforming Kenya through massive investments in human capital, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. [2, 32]

President Ruto asserted that his government's policies have yielded tangible results for Kenyans. He highlighted a significant drop in inflation, which he stated has declined from 9.6% in 2022 to 4.6% as of October 2025. [24] The President attributed this to interventions in the agricultural sector, which have lowered food prices. “The price of a 2kg packet of flour has fallen from Sh250 in 2022 to as low as Sh130 today,” he stated. [24] The Central Bank of Kenya projects a steady economic growth of 5.5% for 2025. [3]

Key achievements cited by the Head of State included the disbursement of over KSh 80 billion through the Hustler Fund, which he termed “the largest financial inclusion programme since independence,” and the creation of over 428,000 jobs through the Affordable Housing Programme. [5] In the health sector, President Ruto announced an increase in the cancer treatment package under the new Social Health Authority (SHA) from KSh 550,000 to KSh 800,000, effective December 1, 2025. [4] He also noted that an overhaul of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has increased the availability of essential medicines from 48% to 68%. [4]

Opposition Rejects ‘Rosy Picture’, Points to Public Debt and Hardship

The President’s optimistic report was swiftly contested by opposition leaders, who described the address as misleading and detached from the daily struggles of ordinary citizens. [25] Critics argue that the macroeconomic figures presented do not reflect the reality of a populace burdened by a high cost of living, heavy taxation, and rising unemployment. [14, 25]

A significant point of contention is the country's ballooning public debt. A report from the Controller of Budget, released just days before the address on November 18, 2025, revealed that Kenya's national debt has surged to a record KSh 11.7 trillion in the 2024/25 financial year. [6, 11] This figure represents 67.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). [18] According to the report, debt servicing is projected to consume KSh 1.6 trillion this year, accounting for over 70% of ordinary revenue, a statistic that raises concerns about the country's fiscal sustainability. [6, 18]

Opposition figures and civil society groups pointed to recent surveys indicating widespread economic dissatisfaction. A September 2025 poll by TIFA Research found that 65% of Kenyans believe the controversial Finance Act has worsened the cost of living. [14] Health sector stakeholders also challenged the President's claims, dismissing his speech as “underwhelming and short of facts” and highlighting significant challenges in the rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). [16]

A Tale of Two Kenyas: Statistics vs. Lived Experience

The starkly different portrayals of the nation's status underscore a deep divide between the government's official narrative and the lived experience of many Kenyans. While the administration points to stabilizing inflation and projected GDP growth as signs of a successful economic strategy, the opposition maintains that these numbers mask deep-seated problems. [14, 30]

President Ruto’s address focused on long-term development goals, including the dualling of major highways and the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba. [5] He called on the nation to embrace a higher ambition, comparing the current moment to historic decisions taken by countries that achieved rapid industrialization. [5]

However, the opposition, led by figures such as Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, has vowed to champion good governance and fight corruption, which they identify as primary obstacles to progress. [7] They argue that without addressing the immediate pressures of the cost of living and unsustainable debt, the government's grand development plans remain hollow promises. [22, 34] As Kenyans digest the two conflicting accounts, the debate over the true state of the nation continues, with the economic well-being of households remaining the ultimate measure of policy success.