NAIROBI — Three years into his presidency, William Ruto stood before the nation this week not just to tally his wins, but to confront a glaring sore spot in his administration’s legacy: the state of the capital.

In a candid tabling of his three-year scorecard, the President admitted that Nairobi—the region’s economic engine—has been punching below its weight, choked by garbage, darkness, and gridlock. His solution? A fresh, high-stakes “joint command” with the county government and a KES 50 billion (approx. $385 million) war chest to regenerate the city’s rivers and skyline.

“Nairobi cannot continue to be a city in filth,” Ruto declared, signaling a pivot from broad national promises to granular urban intervention. But as the dust settles on the Jamhuri Day celebrations, analysts and residents alike are parsing the numbers behind the rhetoric. The scorecard reveals a presidency defined by massive infrastructure ambition, yet dogged by the slow conversion of tax shillings into tangible keys.

The Green and Blue Pivot

The centerpiece of Ruto’s new Nairobi plan is the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme. Launched earlier this year and now expedited under the new scorecard, the project is no longer just about cleaning water; it is a security and housing strategy wrapped in environmentalism.

The President confirmed that the KES 50 billion initiative has already deployed over 40,000 young people under the ‘Climate Worx’ banner—a direct answer to the youth unemployment crisis that fueled protests earlier in his term. Their mission is twofold: clear the 27.2km river corridor of decades of industrial rot and prepare the banks for a radical facelift.

• The Goal: A 60km trunk sewer line to intercept raw sewage before it hits the river.
• The Carrot: 50,000 social housing units slated for reclaimed riparian land, promising dignity to families in Mathare and Korogocho.
• The Deadline: A strict completion target of January 2027.

“We are turning a health hazard into a waterfront,” noted Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, emphasizing that the project is now a “Special Planning Area” to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks.

The Housing Levy: Billions vs. Bricks

If the river plan is the hope, the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) remains the battlefield. The three-year scorecard offered the most detailed look yet at the controversial Housing Levy, which has been deducting 1.5% from Kenyan paychecks.

The figures are stark. In the financial year ending June 2025, the government collected a massive KES 73.2 billion. However, the conversion rate from cash to concrete has been slower than promised. While the President touted 230,000 units currently under construction nationwide, the number of completed and handed-over units hovers around 3,100—a fraction of the 200,000-per-year target set in 2022.

“The money is there, but the masonry is lagging,” says urban economist Sheila Mwaura. “Kenyans are seeing the deductions on their payslips every month, but unless they live in Mukuru or Nakuru, they aren’t seeing the cranes.”

The President defended the pace, citing the handover of 1,080 units in Mukuru in May as proof of concept. “These are not just keys to doors; they are keys to dignity,” he emphasized, noting that the program has created over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs, absorbing jua kali artisans who fabricate doors and windows.

Railway City: The Sleeping Giant Wakes

Quietly gaining momentum in the scorecard is the Nairobi Railway City, a UK-backed project intended to expand the CBD. After years of delays, 2025 has seen “fresh momentum” with the commencement of the central station and a pedestrian bridge across the railway yard.

Funded largely by UK Export Finance, the project aims to decongest the city center by creating a multi-modal transit hub. For the commuter stuck on Uhuru Highway, this is the most critical piece of the puzzle. The plan promises to integrate the new station with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system—another project that has faced agonizing delays but is now flagged for “immediate acceleration” in the President’s new roadmap.

“We are reimagining the economic fabric of Nairobi,” said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who has been tasked with overseeing the delivery of these flagship urban projects.

As Ruto enters the fourth year of his term, the pressure is no longer just about planning; it is about finishing. The KES 50 billion river gamble and the housing towers rising in the slums will likely determine whether his administration is remembered for its taxes or its transformations.