By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, November 20, 2025 - President William Ruto has declared that Kenya’s development will be powered by its own revenues, not foreign aid or debt, signalling a decisive shift from the country’s decades-long reliance on external borrowing.
Speaking during his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, Ruto said the nation must move beyond a debt-driven growth model that has burdened generations of Kenyans. “Our country will not be developed by others. Our country will not be developed by aid. Our country will not be developed by debt. Our country will be developed by us, using our own revenues and taxes,” he said. “And I guarantee that no revenues or taxes will be stolen.”
Kenya’s public debt now exceeds Sh11 trillion, with much of it accumulated over the past 15 years to fund major infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway, Nairobi Expressway, bypasses, and energy installations. China remains Kenya’s largest bilateral creditor, accounting for about 20 per cent of external debt, mainly financing transport and energy projects. Analysts have long warned that rising debt service pressures threaten the country’s economic stability.
Ruto used his address to highlight the shift towards local revenue mobilisation and fiscal discipline as the foundation for sustainable growth. He pointed to successful government programmes, including affordable housing and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as examples of initiatives now being delivered without excessive dependence on foreign loans.
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“Three years ago, when we promised affordable housing, cynics dismissed it. Today, the question on everyone’s mind is: ‘How do I get one of these units?’” Ruto said. On UHC, he added that the government is paying medical premiums for 2.3 million vulnerable Kenyans, including orphans, widows, the elderly, and those without income, reinforcing that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
The President also defended Kenya’s economic trajectory, noting that global institutions and market analysts are recognising the country’s improving fiscal outlook. “Confidence in Kenya is rising,” he said, dismissing critics as “high priests of eternal pessimism” spreading misinformation about the nation’s finances.
Ruto urged Kenyans to reject mediocrity, embrace ambition, and support a vision of self-reliance. “We must step beyond the comfort of the familiar and ordinary, and reach for nothing less than excellence and greatness,” he said.
