President William Ruto is expected to outline an ambitious vision for Kenya’s economic future when he delivers a Special National Address at 7pm on Thursday, setting out what State House says will be a long-term roadmap for the country’s development.
The address comes after the President held a late-night meeting with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at State House in Nairobi. Officials have not disclosed what was discussed, though the meeting has heightened anticipation ahead of the speech.
According to the Presidency, Mr Ruto will present his plans for accelerating Kenya’s economic growth, with a focus on the country’s long-term development and its ambition to join the ranks of the world’s advanced economies.
The President is expected to point to the experiences of countries such as Azerbaijan, Singapore and China, which have seen rapid economic growth over recent decades through sustained investment, industrial expansion and public sector reforms. He is likely to argue that Kenya can follow a similar path if it maintains policy consistency, invests in infrastructure and education, and strengthens economic management.
The speech is also expected to revisit several commitments made during Mr Ruto’s State of the Nation Address in November 2025.
At the time, the President projected economic growth of between 5 and 5.8 per cent in 2026, citing lower inflation, stronger export performance and efforts to improve public finances.
He also defended the government’s health reforms, saying the Social Health Authority would expand access to healthcare while ongoing changes at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority would improve the availability of medicines.
Infrastructure is expected to feature prominently again. The administration has continued to champion a Sh5 trillion dual carriageway programme alongside investments in roads, energy, transport and the Affordable Housing Programme, which Mr Ruto has described as both a source of jobs and a way to increase access to decent housing.
Agriculture and youth employment are also expected to remain central themes. The government has pledged to raise farm productivity through subsidised fertiliser, irrigation projects and wider agricultural reforms, while expanding technical training through TVET institutions to prepare young people for opportunities in manufacturing, technology and other growing sectors.
Thursday’s address will offer the clearest indication yet of how the government intends to deliver on those promises as it seeks to sustain economic growth and reassure Kenyans about the country’s long-term direction.
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