President William Ruto has defended his State of the Nation address, insisting that it captured key government programmes designed to tackle Kenya’s most pressing challenges. Speaking in Olopirik village in Narok West on Saturday, the President said his administration is committed to delivering long-term solutions rather than focusing on short-term political gains.
Ruto highlighted the signing of the Government-Owned Enterprises Bill, 2025, describing it as a major milestone in setting up the Sovereign Wealth Fund and the National Infrastructure Fund. These two instruments, he said, will help Kenya manage looming fiscal pressures and secure sustainable development financing from 2026 onwards.
“Our plan is not about the next election; it is about the next generation,” Ruto said. “Now we have the legal framework. We will form these funds and begin implementing the programmes next year.”
The President also chastised politicians who have used the Mau Forest evictions to stir emotions and mislead affected families. He noted that his government is now addressing long-standing disputes in the area, including titling and fencing of land previously mired in controversy.
“Because it was marred with politics, they never titled or fenced it. We have solved all of that,” he said, adding that his administration has released nearly KSh 2 billion to allocate about 10,000 acres and issue title deeds to verified beneficiaries.
The Mau Forest issue has been deeply political for years, with thousands displaced in previous operations and many left without land or support. Following Ruto’s pledge in May, the government vetted over 14,000 affected individuals, assuring that only genuine victims would be resettled.
Meanwhile, the government is also restoring the Mau Forest, fencing off degraded sections and committing to rehabilitate more than 3,000 hectares annually. Over the next decade, authorities plan to fully restore the 33,000 hectares lost to encroachment and settlement.
