President William Ruto has sounded a warning that corruption remains the gravest threat to the gains of the 2010 Constitution, 15 years after its promulgation.
Speaking during the inaugural Katiba Day celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday, Ruto admitted that graft continues to undermine governance across all arms of government.
“It is a fact that corruption exists in the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary—and each must confront this menace with honesty and resolve,” he said, stressing that entrenched graft has weakened institutions and robbed Kenyans of the full benefits of the charter.
Ruto acknowledged that even within the Executive, corruption remains “alarmingly high,” despite ongoing reforms. He highlighted his administration’s digitisation of over 22,000 government services, which he said had raised daily revenue collections from Sh60 million to more than Sh1 billion—translating to over Sh500 billion annually.
“Corruption must be chased down every alley, every corridor, and every corner of the Executive by every well-meaning citizen whenever it is spotted,” he urged.
Turning to Parliament, the President questioned whether MPs would uphold accountability or entrench corruption. He challenged legislators to lead by example in defending the Constitution. On the Judiciary, he said Kenyans expected integrity and independence from the courts, describing them as the “true temple of justice.”
Beyond governance, Ruto cited progress in implementing the Bill of Rights, noting initiatives such as universal healthcare, affordable housing, and a student-centered higher education funding model.
On devolution, the President pledged continued support for counties, revealing that since 2022, his administration has accelerated the transfer of all 14 devolved functions. He said counties had received timely and increased allocations, including Sh415 billion under the 2025 Division of Revenue Act—up from Sh387 billion the previous year.
“Since the birth of devolution 12 years ago, the national government has transferred a total of KSh4 trillion to counties,” Ruto said, adding that new laws have enhanced fairness in resource distribution.
The Katiba Day event was attended by top leaders, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Chief Justice Martha Koome, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, Raila Odinga, governors, and diplomats.
