President William Ruto heads to Parliament for the 13th State of the Nation Address, on the backdrop of a broad-based government, following his 'handshake' with the late Raila Odinga earlier this year.
Last year, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) led the opposition to a large array of Ruto's policies; however, the mood is expected to be very different at this year's national addresses.
According to the State House, Ruto's speech will highlight gains in the economy, security, education reforms, Universal Healthcare, Massive Infrastructure and Housing Build-Out, digital transformation and food security, among other crucial issues.
On Wednesday, videos and images from the State House showed the President, who often holds rallies and other official events, locked in preparation for the speech, which is expected to outline the focus areas for his government over the next few months and the next budget cycle.
State of the Nation Address Ends
At 4:16pm, the State of the Nation Address ends.
Speaker Kingi adjourns the Senate sitting until Tuesday, 2:30pm.
Wetang'ula does the same to conclude the bicameral sitting.
President William Ruto making his State of the Nation Address at the National Assembly, November 20, 2025.Ruto Unveils Four-Point Plan to Transform Kenya Into a First World Nation
Ruto has unveiled what he called a “roadmap to take Kenya to the next level”, outlining four national priorities he says will define the country’s push towards first-world status.
He said the first priority is investing aggressively in Kenyans through education, research, and innovation. He pointed to the creation of a dedicated State Department for Science, Research and Innovation and pledged to scale the national research fund to 2 per cent of GDP.
The second pillar targets shifting Kenya from a net importer to a net exporter of food. Ruto said irrigation is now “the only path forward” and announced plans to build at least 50 mega dams and bring 2.5 million acres under irrigation within seven years.
“We can no longer allow the clouds to determine whether our people eat or not,” he said.
Energy expansion forms the third priority, with the President committing to generate an additional 10,000 megawatts of electricity in seven years to support industry, digital growth and e-mobility.
The fourth priority is transport and logistics, including dualling 2,500 kilometres of highways and modernising ports and airports. Ruto said efficient networks are “the backbone of our competitiveness.” “These four projects are our national imperatives… not because they are easy, but because they are absolutely necessary,” he said.
Listening to the Head of State, the four points, while different, read like the Big Four Agenda announced during the 2017 campaigns.
Then, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy, Ruto, outlined Manufacturing, Affordable Housing, Universal Health Coverage, and Food Security as their key areas of focus.
MPs Interrupt Ruto's Address
Members of Parliament briefly interrupt President Ruto's address, chanting 'tutam'.
The legislators, largely from the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, started chanting after Ruto outlined plans to expand key roads, including the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, as well as the Bomas-Ongata Rongai-Kiserian road.
"Next week, I will launch the dualling of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Naivasha–Nakuru–Mau Summit road. On the same day, we will break ground on the dualling of the 58-kilometre Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha road. The gridlock that paralyses these roads every day, especially on weekends and holidays, will soon be a thing of the past," Ruto said before the brief interruption.
He also said his government will expand the Standard Gauge Railway all the way to Malaba from Naivasha, where the second phase of construction stopped.
Both MPs and Senators stood from their seats, raising their hands, shouting 'tutam', the moniker the ruling party has adopted to challenge the opposition's 'wanam' chants.
Ruto attempted to continue with his address, but the legislators' chants grew louder.
The legislators sat down after Ruto continued with his speech.
Ruto Establishes New State Department to Promote STEM
The government has established the State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation with the sole goal of promoting STEM courses.
"I have reorganised government departments to establish a dedicated State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation to support the urgent need to scale up STEM courses in our education system, strengthen innovation, promote research, and create a pool of high-level professionals in engineering and science," Ruto announced.
Ruto further says his government must actualise the national research fund, moving from the current 0.8 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent.
He says this is part of his goal to drive Kenya into a first-world country. He asserts, "We will mobilise domestic public resources, private investment, venture capital, and other private-sector financing to drive this effort, because no nation rises above the abilities of its citizens."
Unga Prices Drop, 7 Million Farmers Registered
"In 2022, fewer than 300,000 farmers were on record. Today, over 7.1 million farmers have registered on the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information system, giving us visibility to design scientifically targeted interventions and eliminate extortionists, brokers, cartels and middlemen," Ruto says.
Ruto says the price of a 2kg packet of flour has fallen from what it was, Ksh250 in 2022, to as low as Ksh130 today, praising the impact of the subsidised fertiliser programme.
He says, this year, seven million bags of fertiliser and 35 million kilos of certified seed have been distributed. The government targets to distribute 12.5 million bags across 1,451 wards next year.
Ruto Boosts of Financial Stability
President Ruto has once again reiterated what he terms as his government's turnaround of the economy, pointing to leading financial institutions, which he says have given the country's economy a clean bill of health.
According to the Head of State, 14 leading financial institutions and the country's economy are expected to grow by between 5.0 per cent and 5.8 per cent. He says this is because of the stability of the Kenyan Shilling, which has stayed below Ksh130 for two years now and sober fiscal management, among other factors.
"As I prepared this address, I reflected deeply on the long road we have travelled as a nation…From that reflection came one undeniable truth. We have made commendable progress, but Kenya still punches way below its true weight," he said.
Ruto goes on to point out that foreign reserves have surpassed $12 billion, while inflation, which stood at 9.6 per cent in 2022, has steadily declined to 4.6 per cent as of last month.
He adds, "Three years ago, Kenya was ranked the eighth largest economy in Africa with a GDP of $115 billion. Today, our GDP has increased to $136 billion, moving us up to become the sixth largest economy on the continent, according to the IMF."
Ruto Begins His Address
Speaker Kingi opens the sitting with prayers before welcoming Speaker Wetang'ula to read into the records the standings for the special sitting.
Wetang'ula celebrates retiring Chief Serjeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly Aloisio Nterepu Lekulo, OGW. He officially retires on November 24, 2025.
He then welcomes President Ruto for his address.
Ruto begins by saying, "Two years ago, when I delivered my first State of the Nation Address, I had a vision to sell; today, I have a story to tell."
First Lady Rachel Ruto Among Key Dignitaries in Parliament
Present at this year's State of the Nation Address is First Lady Rachel Ruto, who is sitting next to DP Kindiki.
Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, alongside other CSs Aden Duale, Kipchumba Murkomen (Interior), John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture), and Alice Wahome (Lands), has escorted the President.
Chief Justice Martha Koome and Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu are also present, accompanied by Justice Daniel Musinga, who is the President of the Court of Appeal and Justices Oscar Angote of the Environment Court and Brian Ongaya of the Employment Court.
Former Speakers Francis Ole Kapara and Kenneth Lusaka, the sitting Governor of Bungoma, are also present in Parliament.
Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdulahi and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja are representing the devolved units in the House.
President William Ruto making his State of the Nation Address at the National Assembly, November 20, 2025.Ruto Arrives at Parliament
President Ruto arrives at the Parliament premises.
He is welcomed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Chief of Defense Forces Charles Khariri and the Speakers of both the Senate and the National Assembly.
He inspects a guard of honour before proceeding to the Parliament buildings.
President William Ruto is welcomed by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula ahead of the State of the Nation Address on November 20, 2025, at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.
PCSRuto Enters Chambers
The Head of State enters the National Assembly chambers for the bicameral Parliament sitting.
He is sitting at what is normally Speaker Moses Wetang'ula's seat in the House.
Speaker Wetang'ula is on his right, with the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi to his left.
President William Ruto making his way into the National Assembly Chambers for his State of the Nation Address, November 20, 2025.PCS