Ruto: Broad based government is 'God-sent'
President William Ruto addressing at Kivaywa primary school grounds Lugari in Kakamega county on June 15, 2025 during Interdenominational prayer service in Kakamega county.
What you need to know:
- President William Ruto has praised former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's "God-sent" role in stabilising his administration.
- He cited his intervention during last year's Gen Z-led protests, which threatened national collapse, as a particular highlight.
- This has led to Odinga's allies being appointed to key government positions as part of a "broad-based alliance".
- During a meeting with leaders in Kisumu, President Ruto announced multi-billion shilling development projects for the county.
President William Ruto on Wednesday acknowledged the pivotal role the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has played in stabilising his administration, describing their broad-based alliance as “God-sent”.
Mr Odinga, once Ruto’s fiercest political rival, intervened during last year’s Gen Z-led protests, which had brought the country to the verge of collapse. In a move that surprised both allies and opponents, he entered into a working partnership with the Kenya Kwanza government, citing national unity and the need to avert anarchy.
His intervention helped quell the unrest, halting the protests. President Ruto later appointed several of Mr Odinga’s allies to key Cabinet positions in an effort to restore public trust.
While hosting Kisumu County leaders at State House Nairobi, led by Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, President Ruto admitted that his government had faced serious governance challenges prior to Mr Odinga’s cooperation.
“This broad-based government is not the creation of either Raila Odinga or myself, it is God-sent,” he said, adding that genuine transformation demands difficult decisions and broad political goodwill.
He assured Kenyans that no region would be excluded from development.
“We are committed to ensuring inclusive growth. No region or community will be left behind,” he stated.
Governor Nyong’o praised the President’s openness and responsiveness to county proposals, calling it a testament to collaboration between national and county governments.
State House has recently hosted delegations from other Odinga-stronghold counties including Siaya, Homa Bay, and Migori, signalling a significant political shift among opposition leaders who previously rejected Ruto’s presidency.
During the Kisumu meeting, President Ruto outlined several development projects key amongst them: the upgrading of Kisumu’s Moi Stadium at a cost of Sh700 million; installation of solar energy systems at Ahero Irrigation Scheme for enhanced rice production; a Sh3.5 billion rice farming programme in partnership with JICA; construction of a second ferry by Kenya Shipyard Limited to boost Lake Victoria trade and elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to national status with a Sh3 billion allocation.
On the safety of lake users, the President announced that the ongoing construction of the Lake Victoria Search and Rescue Centre was now at 35% complete and exuded confidence that the initiative will reduce the 4,000 annual deaths reported on the lake, significantly.
On the blue economy, the President cited the Sh1.3 billion Kabonyo Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, projected to produce up to 30 million fingerlings annually.
He also highlighted gains in agriculture, with maize production rising from 44 million bags in 2022 to 65 million in 2023, and projected to reach 75 million this year.
On health, he reported that 23.7 million Kenyans are now registered under the new Social Health Authority (SHA), which has paid out Sh41 billion in claims over eight months, far surpassing the National Hospital Insurance Fund’s annual disbursement of Sh25 billion.
Regarding housing, he announced that 700,000 affordable housing units are at various stages of development nationwide.
In education, the head of state said that the government has hired 76,000 teachers in the past two years, with plans to recruit another 24,000 by the end of the year.