President William Ruto on Sunday sidestepped calls by ODM party leader Raila Odinga for compensation of victims of past protests, instead using the Madaraka Day celebrations to spotlight his administration’s achievements.
Mr Odinga, speaking moments before the President, urged Dr Ruto to compensate victims of police brutality during opposition-led protests as well as the June 2024 nationwide anti-tax demonstrations led by Gen Z.
Raila Odinga on Ruto to compensate anti-govt protests victims
While both the President and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula issued public apologies during the National Prayer Breakfast last week, Mr Odinga said that mere words were insufficient for the victims of police brutality.
“An apology is a good first step,” said Odinga, “but what about the lives lost? The government must compensate the bereaved and the injured to help the nation heal and move forward in unity and peace.”
Mr Odinga’s remarks echoed commitments made in the 10-point accord between his ODM party and the ruling UDA signed in March. He even nudged the President to reaffirm some of those promises publicly during his speech, a request Dr Ruto did not grant.
Instead, President Ruto chose to focus on the message of unity, resilience and belief in self-determination.
“No one else is going to bring change except us,” he declared. “The Kenya we want will only be built by embracing transformation, however uncomfortable it may seem at first.”
The President’s speech was a challenge to doubters to cast aside their hesitation and lean into the momentum of reform already reshaping lives across the country.
Two-and-a-half years into the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the President painted a picture of progress, one where dignity, opportunity, and hope are no longer reserved for a few, but are becoming the shared inheritance of every Kenyan.
“Bottom-Up is not just a slogan, it is a lived reality for millions of Kenyans,” he declared.
President Ruto sold the “hustler versus dynasty” narrative to groups generally typified as boda boda riders, unemployed youth and mama mboga (grocers) to ascend to the presidency. His Kenya Kwanza swept to power on the strength of lofty promises of creating jobs for millions of unemployed youth and prioritising the needs of low-income earners, among other ideas.
He said the economy was picking up, growing at an average annual rate of 5 per cent, and surpassing both regional and global benchmarks.
Mr Raila Odinga speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay on June 1, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
“The shilling has strengthened dramatically, inflation is down from 9.6 per cent to 3.8 per cent, and foreign exchange reserves now exceed $10 billion. These figures are not just numbers, they are a testament to what focused leadership and bold reform can achieve,” he asserted.
In the heart of his address, the President played up one of his administration’s flagship successes, the Affordable Housing Programme. He recalled with emotion the handover of keys to over 1,000 families in Nairobi’s Mukuru estate late last month.
“To see families move from the hardship of overcrowded slums to the relative comfort of permanent homes complete with water, electricity and clean cooking gas was deeply humbling,” he said.
The head of state said that the dream of owning a house was no longer the preserve of the privileged.
“These stories are no longer rare, they are becoming a national reality,” he said, adding that his administration will deliver over 150,000 homes to make housing even more accessible.
He also announced a policy proposal to Parliament allowing Housing Levy contributors to access home loans of up to Sh5 million at single-digit interest rates, applicable to any housing unit, including for refinancing existing mortgages.
The President also took the opportunity to shower praises on the Social Health Authority, saying that since the launch of Taifa Care and the establishment of SHA in October 2024, 23 million Kenyans had registered.
“SHA is working,” the President declared. “Over Sh43 billion in claims have already been disbursed and 4.5 million Kenyans have received treatment without paying a shilling.”
“The government has allocated sufficient resources to fully fund primary healthcare services,” he said. “This healthcare service delivery transformation goes beyond the magnitude of numbers of new beneficiaries to real impact. SHA is settling payments promptly, ensuring that no Kenyan is turned away due to a lack of funds.”
Further, to expand access to comprehensive inpatient care, he said SHA is pushing for the enrolment of all Kenyans, with a focus on those in the informal sector.
Residents of Homa Bay Town gathered at the stadium for Madaraka Day fete.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo| Nation Media Group
He said a majority in the informal sector had been excluded under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund, despite accounting for about 80 per cent of the country’s population.
“So far, 1.7 million informal sector households have successfully enrolled and paid for social health insurance, a record achievement representing the highest number of informal sector enrolments,” the President said.
He announced plans to introduce “Lipa SHA pole pole” to address challenges such as irregular premium contributions among informal sector workers.
The President also defended the controversial leasing of State-owned sugar factories—Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony and Muhoroni—terming the decision another strategic step toward restoring profitability and safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods.
He said the move would allow for the modernisation of the mills and ensure prompt payment of farmers and workers.
“For years, these factories were a financial burden on the Exchequer, surviving only on repeated taxpayer-funded bailouts while failing to pay farmers and workers. The government has acknowledged its limitations in managing these mills. Let it be clearly understood that neither the factories nor their assets, including land, have been sold,” he said.
To support the youth, President Ruto announced the introduction of a Sh20 billion empowerment programme dubbed National Youth Empowerment Towards Advancement in partnership with the World Bank.
The President said the initiative aims to empower over 800,000 youth aged 18–29 years and up to 35 years for those with disabilities “by enhancing their employability through skills training, on-the-job experience, recognition of prior learning, entrepreneurial development, and the promotion of a savings culture”.
“This initiative targets at least 70 youth per ward across the country, offering grant funding, business training and market linkages. We have committed Sh5 billion in grants to support 100,000 young people, each receiving Sh50,000 in seed capital to start their entrepreneurial journey by August this year,” he said.
DP Kindiki's message to President Ruto on Madaraka Day
“Let’s bring everyone on board, young and old. None is superior, each has a role,” he said, commending Mr Odinga for his “consistent patriotism and willingness to prioritise Kenya”.
“Progressively, we are creating a more inclusive, cohesive and equitable Kenya. Other than investment in agricultural value chains from where the majority of our citizens derive their incomes, a substantial amount of resources has been channelled to revitalise the blue economy value chains and support the fisherfolk,” said Prof Kindiki.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga praised the evolving relationship between President Ruto and Mr Odinga, crediting it for development gains in her region.
