President William Ruto on Thursday, June 19, 2025, convened a high-stakes two-day National Executive Retreat, gathering all Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen.

The high-level meeting is squarely aimed at addressing the country’s persistently slowing economy and the challenge of rising unemployment, issues that have intensified public pressure on the administration.

This gathering marks the Third Cabinet Retreat and Mid-Term Review for the President’s executive team, providing a critical juncture for assessing the performance of government programs and projects nearly halfway through his administration.

The agenda reflects the pressing national concerns, with discussions focusing on:

1. Status of implementation of Cabinet decisions: A review of how effectively past policy directives have been translated into action.

2. Status of Official Development Assistance (ODA): An examination of how foreign aid is being utilised and its impact on national development goals.

3. Government performance and delivery: A comprehensive assessment of ministerial and departmental output against set targets.

4. National government co-ordination report: Addressing potential inefficiencies and bottlenecks in inter-agency collaboration.

5. Status of implementation of presidential directives: A follow-up on specific mandates issued during the Second Cabinet Retreat.

6. Mid-term report on the 5th administration’s priorities: A broad evaluation of progress on key pledges, including job creation, affordable housing, and agricultural transformation.

The retreat comes at a challenging time for Kenya.

The country has been grappling with persistent inflation, a depreciating currency, and mounting fiscal pressures, which have translated into a high cost of living for many ordinary citizens.

Promises of job creation have faced hurdles, with youth unemployment remaining a significant socioeconomic concern. The administration’s recent fiscal policies, including new tax measures, have also drawn public criticism and protests.

President Ruto, whose administration came into office on a platform centred on economic revival and empowering the lower-income segments through the ‘Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda’, is under increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible results.

This retreat provides an opportunity for introspection and strategic recalibration, allowing the executive to fine-tune its approach to economic governance and service delivery.

The KCB Leadership Centre, known for hosting strategic discussions, will serve as the secluded venue where the top echelons of government are expected to engage in candid assessments, identify bottlenecks, and devise accelerated implementation strategies.

The outcome of these deliberations could significantly shape the remainder of President Ruto’s first term, as his government seeks to translate policy intentions into palpable improvements in the lives of Kenyans struggling with economic uncertainty. The nation watches closely for signals of a renewed approach to tackling its most formidable economic challenges.