President William Ruto has urged Kenyan youth to rally behind his economic transformation agenda and reject the trap of cynicism and pessimism.

The Head of State was addressing a delegation of Kenya Kwanza leaders and intern graduates from the Affordable Housing Programme on Friday, January 23, 2026.

He implored young people to draw inspiration from the determination and dedication of his Kenya Kwanza government.

Ruto noted that despite facing intense criticism that could have derailed its bottom-up transformative agenda, the administration stayed the course and delivered tangible projects.

Number dont lie

He recounted how much of his agenda—particularly in housing and other key sectors—was met with pessimistic and dismissive responses, with some critics even labelling him a liar.

“Negativity and the attitude of ‘nothing can happen’ are slowly ending. I have come a long way with people saying I was lying about hiring teachers, the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the economy. Today, the numbers do not lie,” he posited.

Refuse skeptics

“Today, the houses are there, and the facts are as stubborn as always because we kept sight of our goals,” he stated.

Ruto urged the youth to learn from his example and not to cower in the face of criticism and doubt. He emphasised that persistence and belief have now turned skeptics into believers, showcasing his administration’s commitment despite the challenges.

“To the young people: you can now see what happens when you believe you can achieve nothing. Had I been a coward, we would have achieved nothing, and we would not have these projects we are now talking about. Walinipigia kelele wakaniita Zakayo na maandano mingi,” he concluded.

His remarks came after he doubled down on his declaration to transform the nation, terming it far from a mere political pronouncement but a concrete plan.

“When we said ‘bottom-up’ is not a slogan, we meant it,” Ruto affirmed. He underscored that the NYOTA Program had so far reached 25,000 youths, with a greater reach targeted by the conclusion in two weeks, stressing its wide reach and impact on ordinary Kenyans, who needed no godfather or acquaintance with certain political figures to access the grant