President William Ruto’s State of the Nation address on Thursday afternoon was briefly interrupted after a section of Members of Parliament broke into loud chants of “Fire! Fire! Fire!” The unexpected outburst forced the Head of State to momentarily halt his remarks as order was restored in the National Assembly.
Ruto had just begun outlining his administration’s performance over the last three years when the chants erupted. According to the Constitution, the President is required to give a comprehensive report to Parliament each year on the status of the nation, progress of the government, and future plans.
In his speech, Ruto acknowledged that Kenya had faced turbulence marked by political disagreements, tough economic conditions, and what he described as “storms that none of us invited.” Still, he insisted the country had made “commendable progress” though it remains “below its true weight.”
The President said he had shifted from having “a vision to sell” to “a story to tell,” reflecting on Kenya’s 62-year journey through challenges, achievements, and national milestones. He called on Kenyans and lawmakers to adopt a renewed spirit of ambition and excellence.
“We must cast off the prevailing mindset of being content with the average,” Ruto said. “We must step beyond the comfort of the familiar and reach — with courage, clarity and conviction — for nothing less than excellence and greatness.”
Ruto defended his administration’s economic decisions, including ending what he termed wasteful subsidies and tightening revenue collection. These measures, he said, had placed Kenya on a recovery path. He noted that inflation had declined to 4.2 percent, calling it proof that “the tough choices are working.”
The President arrived at Parliament shortly after 2 p.m., accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, and received by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri.
