5 Promises Ruto Fulfilled 3 Months After Becoming President

President William Ruto takes his oath of office alongside his wife Rachel Ruto at the Kasarani Stadium on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.jpg
President William Ruto takes his oath of office alongside his wife Rachel Ruto at the Kasarani Stadium on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.jpg
Kenyans.co.ke

On September 13, a new era in the Kenyan democratic journey kicked off with the swearing in ceremonies of the then newly elected President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

In a spirited campaign period leading to the August 9 General election, Ruto had made a raft of promises aimed at upending the Kenyan economy and empowering his then newly created movement titled Hustlers.

At the time of his swearing in, however, a number of skeptics emerged from several quarters arguing that a majority of his pledges were impossible to see to fruition.

Three months down the line, the Head of State proved some of his naysayers wrong by fulfilling promises he had made in sectors such as loan access and ending police brutality.

From Left: First lady Racheal Ruto, President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Second Lady Dorcas Gachagua Kneeling down for prayers at Kasarani on Tuesday, September 13, 2022
From Left: First lady Rachel Ruto, President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Second Lady Dorcas Gachagua Kneeling down for prayers at Kasarani on Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Kenyans.co.ke

Here are six promises that Ruto’s regime has already fulfilled;

  1. Enrolling Hustlers to Arizona University

When he took control of Government, one of Ruto’s solemn pledges was to empower hustlers in all aspects of their lives and was determined to have them acquire educational skills through the cheapest means possible.

During his campaigns, the Head of State made a trip to the US where he held meetings with leaders at the Arizona State University whose outcomes included empowering the world’s needy through provision of training.

“Supporting small businesses through training, financing, removing bottle-necks and creating a conducive environment in the sector is the surest way to grow the economy; from the bottom,” the President stated at the time.

On Monday, December 12, during Jamhuri Day celebrations, Ruto awarded all the 20,000 individuals who attended the event at Nyayo Stadium a 16-unit course at the esteemed US University whose cost he averaged at Ksh100,000 for each.

“As promised, everyone present in this stadium today will get a free scholarship on global entrepreneurship and innovation from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University,” he stated in his speech.

  1. Hustler Fund

The Hustler Fund project emerged one of the biggest pillars during President William Ruto’s campaign aimed at boosting small businesses.

At the time, the Head of State promised to provide a cheap loan to boost the financing of small and medium businesses in an attempt to shield them from exploitative interests demanded in the banking sector.

At the end of November, Ruto made true his promises by launching a fund (that attracted a relatively lower interest rate of 8 per cent) that all interested applicants could access through their mobile phones.

In mid-December, two weeks after its launch, a total of 15.4 million Kenyans had registered for the Fund which disbursed Ksh7.5 billion. Before the expiry of the 14-day repayment period, Ksh1.1 billion has since been repaid and nearly Ksh400 million mobilized in savings.

  1. Police Reforms and Special Unit Disbandment

Extra-judicial killings and police brutality ranked at the top of Ruto’s concerns during his tenure as Kenya’s Deputy President and promised to make reforms in the entire police force once he clinched the top spot.

On his swearing-in day, the Head of State then made hair-raising directives including naming an acting Inspector General of Police and disbanding the then widely feared Special Service Unit (SSU) - an under-the-radar extension of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

At the time, Ruto explained that the secretive group had been involved in brutalising residents and carrying out the killings.

Some members of the defunct group have since been taken to court on the basis that the squad operated illegally.

  1. Hiring of Teachers

For years, teachers for both primary and secondary schools had reached out to the Government arguing that school often grappled with extreme shortages during all school seasons. In 2022 alone, the total shortage stood at over 100,000 yet over 300,000 trained tutors lacked employment.

Ruto, who was on the path of changing workers’ welfare, promised to ensure that all the trained teachers were employed by the state as soon as he took over the reins.

On December 12, during the Jamhuri Day celebrations, the Head of State instructed Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to start hiring over 30,000 at the beginning of January 2023. He promised to hire all the unemployed teachers in just two years.

  1. Fertiliser Prices

President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua prioritised lowering food prices hence easing the cost of living. 

The duo further argued that their strategy was aimed at aiding over 4 million Kenyans who faced starvation in the worst drought in four decades that affected nearly 30 counties.

During his swearing in, Ruto lowered the prices of fertiliser from Ksh6,500 for a 50-kilogram bag to Ksh3,500. At the time, he argued that the move would lead to increased productivity hence surplus foodstuffs that would, eventually, lower their prices.

“For the short rains, we have already made arrangements to make 1.4 million bags of fertilisers available at Ksh3,500 for a 50 kg bag - down from Ksh6,500,” he stated at the time. 

Over 6.1 million people are facing starvation today.

Fertiliser Offload
Subsidised fertiliser offloaded at a depot in Homabay County on October 6, 2022.
KNA
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