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President William Ruto now says he is not worried about his re-election in 2027.

Speaking during a church service in Sotik, Bomet County on Sunday, November 19, President Ruto maintained that his main aim currently is implementing the right policies to transform and create a better country for future generations.

“Kenya has stagnated for many years because of leaders focusing on their re-election… That’s not my work. I am not planning on how to be re-elected. Being elected again is by God’s plan and the will of Kenyans. I am planning on how to transform the country,” Ruto stated, further assuring Bomet residents that the economy would improve over time.

“We can not continue to focus on the next election, we must begin to focus on the next generation. That’s how to change Kenya.”

The president also defended his numerous foreign trips, insisting that the country stands to benefit from his engagement with world leaders.

He disclosed that he would be leaving for Germany tonight to secure at least 200,000 job opportunities for Kenyans.

This, he said, is part of efforts to secure 3,000 to 5000 jobs weekly for Kenyans abroad.

“I have agreed with Bore (Labour CS Florence Bore) that we will sign bilateral labour agreements so that we export labour from Kenya. We want to export 3,000 to 5,000 Kenyans every week so that they can go and work abroad to sustain their livelihood and also bring us money,” President Ruto said.

“I was in Saudi Arabia last week. My CS was at the Saudi Arabia Embassy as we had agreed. The German (Chancellor) was in Kenya three months ago. Tonight, I am going to Germany because he promised us 200,000 jobs. “I must go there and seal the deal,” he added.

Ruto’s stand on Kenya’s economy

In recent months, President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration has faced heavy criticism for imposing additional taxes and levies on Kenyans despite the harsh economic times.

He had pledged to bring down the cost of living in his first 100 days in office if he won the presidency. A year later, the cost of living remains high due to increased taxes and new levies.

On Thursday, President Ruto downplayed criticism from various quarters regarding the country’s trajectory. He insisted that he would not choose a convenient or popular path to transform the country.

“We should never be short-term in our approaches to issues. My goal is to transform Kenya and make future generations prosperous,” President Ruto remarked during the opening of a two-day National Executive Pitstop Retreat at the Edge Convention Centre in South C, Nairobi.

“We have had to make very important decisions, sometimes not very easy, sometimes not very pleasant – very difficult decisions to be able to take the country forward. We must always make the right decisions, however difficult it may be. You can never go wrong by making the right decision.”

The Head of State highlighted that Kenya is progressing towards food security due to the government’s move to subsidise food production.

He also pledged the government’s commitment to deal with unemployment as well as honouring the country’s debt obligation.