When President William Ruto took office in September 2022, he pledged a “Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda” (BETA) to uplift Kenya’s hustlers through job creation, affordable housing, universal healthcare, and agricultural productivity. By mid 2025 hardening sentiments, outrage, and declining trust reveal unfulfilled economic promises as the root of public anger. Public sentiment shows a stark disconnect between Ruto’s pledges and reality. With 34.0% of Kenyans below the USD 2.15 poverty line in 2025, as per the world bank report scrutiny of his progress is becoming more intense.
President Ruto promised to stabilize Kenya’s economy, unfortunately, our economy is still saddled with continuous fiscal deficits, growing debt burden of KES 11.2 tn which translates to 74.2% of GDP debt burden as at April 2025, rising unemployment levels, sluggish economic growth, inflations concerns among other ills.
President Ruto vowed to ease the cost of living, critical in a nation where 34.0% live in poverty. Yet, his first act was removing fuel and food subsidies which spiked prices. Inflation hit 9.2% in October 2022, with food inflation at 15.3% in September 2022. Although inflation fallen to 4.1% in April 2025, staple prices have continued to remain high.
Job creation has also disappointed. Ruto promised 1.0 million jobs, especially for youth, a promise that has remained on paper as youth unemployment is still high estimated at 67.0% as per Federation of Kenya Employers, driving protests in June and July 2024, initially against the 2024 Finance Bill that was seen to increase the already unbearable living costs ,these further escalated into demands for Ruto’s resignation, with over 50 deaths during clashes as reported by the Kenya National Commission on Human rights. The Hustler Fund which was meant to spur entrepreneurship has also been criticized, with critics arguing that many recipients use the small loan amounts for daily household expenses rather than for income-generating activities. The insufficient loan limits like the KES 500.0 shillings has also been criticized as they are considered too small to have a meaningful impact on starting or growing a business
His administration however claims success:, GDP grew by 5.6% in 2023 from 4.9% in 2022. Inflation dropped to 4.1% in April 2025 from 9.6% in September 2022 , and the Kenyan shilling strengthened to KES 129.3 per USD as of May 2025 from KES 165.4 in January 2024. These gains, lauded by the president’s men suggest macroeconomic progress which feel distant to the majority of Kenyans and have transformed the hope that Kenyans had into rage, Without addressing these grievances, the government risks further unrest as Kenyans have proved to be relentless in their demand for a better economy. The time to tackle these issues through effective policies is now.
