President's Call to Action

President William Ruto on Sunday, November 9, 2025, urged Kenyans to shed negativity and adopt a positive outlook towards the nation's future, framing it as a prerequisite for achieving economic transformation. Speaking during a church service at the All Saints Pro-Cathedral in Samburu County, the Head of State asserted that a collective belief in the country is essential for its progress. “I see many people who don't believe in our country, I see many people who are negative about Kenya... We have a great country, we have a blessed nation. We must work for it, believe in it,” President Ruto stated. He directly linked this mindset to national development, arguing that leaders who lack vision and focus only on criticism are hindering Kenya's progress.

The Vision for a First-World Kenya

The President's remarks are part of a broader, consistent theme of his administration: a long-term vision to elevate Kenya to a first-world country by 2055. This ambitious goal, a significant extension of the existing Kenya Vision 2030, is underpinned by a proposed KSh 4 trillion investment plan. Earlier in November, while speaking in Vihiga County, President Ruto detailed that this blueprint, which he intends to present to Parliament, would require KSh 1.5 trillion each for infrastructure, energy, and agriculture. The agricultural investment aims to put two million acres of land under irrigation, transforming Kenya from a net food importer to an exporter. The President has emphasized that this grand plan would be funded not through new taxes, but through “brains” and strategic management, drawing parallels with the economic transformations of Asian nations like Singapore and South Korea.

Economic Realities and Public Sentiment

The President's call for optimism comes at a time of significant economic pressure for many Kenyans. While the government projects a GDP growth of around 5.0% to 5.2% for 2025, supported by a resilient services sector and improved agricultural performance, challenges persist. High public debt remains a primary concern, with a significant portion of government revenue allocated to debt servicing. This has been compounded by the World Bank recently freezing a KSh 96.9 billion ($750 million) loan, demanding that Kenya first implement further measures to narrow its budget deficit. These fiscal pressures and the rising cost of living have fueled public discontent and provided ammunition for the administration's critics.

Opposition and Critical Voices

The President's vision and his call for positivity have been met with sharp criticism from opposition figures, who argue the rhetoric is detached from the reality faced by ordinary citizens. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, speaking at a church service in Nairobi on the same day as the President's Samburu address, questioned the feasibility of the first-world ambition. He cited the deteriorating state of public education and healthcare, alongside a harsh business environment, as evidence that the country is moving in the wrong direction. Similarly, former Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter used an analogy to describe the administration's performance as unsatisfactory, comparing the President to a school principal with poor results who insists his plan is working. Other leaders have pointed to what they term wasteful expenditure and poor leadership. Environmental policy has also drawn fire, with People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua condemning the recent lifting of a national logging ban as a betrayal of Kenya's climate action commitments. These critics argue that before calling for national optimism, the government must address fundamental issues of governance, economic hardship, and environmental stewardship.

The Path Forward

President Ruto's administration maintains that its long-term strategy, including the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), is the key to sustainable growth. The agenda prioritizes agriculture, MSMEs, affordable housing, healthcare, and the digital economy. The government points to successes such as a projected record maize harvest of nearly 75 million bags as proof its policies are bearing fruit. However, the disconnect between the government's ambitious, decades-long vision and the immediate economic pain felt by many Kenyans remains a central political challenge. As the administration prepares to table its transformative KSh 4 trillion plan in Parliament, it faces the dual task of managing present-day economic crises while persuading a skeptical public and political opposition to invest their belief in a distant, albeit prosperous, future.