President William Ruto has firmly defended his administration’s economic decisions, saying he can account for every single day since assuming office.

Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, where he had hosted leaders from the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA).

Ruto marked 1,000 days in office by outlining key achievements and the rationale behind his administration’s tough policy choices.

Battling economic crisis

Ruto reflected on the state of the economy when he took office in September 2022, revealing that Kenya was on the brink of a sovereign default.

At the time, inflation stood at 9 per cent, the Kenyan shilling was at Sh167 to the dollar, and the country’s foreign exchange reserves were barely sufficient to cover two and a half months of imports.

“I had to make very difficult decisions to stop Kenya from defaulting on its foreign obligations. Those decisions were not easy, but they were necessary,” Ruto said.

He told the AIPCA clergy and invited guests that the government had to act swiftly and firmly to stabilise the country’s economy and prevent a financial collapse.

Visible results

The president cited improved economic indicators as proof that the painful decisions were paying off.

“Inflation has dropped significantly to 3.8 per cent, and foreign exchange reserves have more than doubled, rising from $5–6 billion to $10.3 billion.

“We are stabilising the economy, restoring investor confidence, and putting Kenya back on a firm growth trajectory,” Ruto noted.

He added that his government’s strategy is not focused on quick wins but rather on building a resilient economy that can withstand future shocks.

A future-focused vision

Ruto also emphasized that his administration’s agenda is aimed at ensuring long-term national prosperity, not political convenience.

He reaffirmed his commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and structural reforms.

“The economic indicators point to good news. Inflation is down, while our GDP has grown,” he stated.

He noted that Kenya’s public debt had decreased significantly, with external debt dropping from Sh6.09 trillion in December 2023 to Sh5.09 trillion by January 2025, largely due to the strengthening of the shilling.

As he concluded, Ruto insisted that his presidency would be judged not by popular decisions but by results, asserting that every step taken so far has been in the interest of securing Kenya’s economic future.