President William Ruto has said he is fully prepared to face voters in the 2027 General Election, declaring that Kenyans will judge him based on the government’s performance in key sectors such as the economy, agriculture, housing, education, healthcare, and job creation.

Ruto made the remarks on Wednesday at State House, Nairobi, while addressing 500 bishops, pastors, and evangelists from the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Africa. He expressed confidence in the government’s development record and said he was ready to be evaluated.

“I am ready for the test. That exam we will sit in 2027, I am ready for it,” he said.
“You will come and ask me. On the economy, I will answer. On agriculture, you will see for yourselves. On the Social Health Authority, you will tell me. On affordable housing, on markets, on youth employment, you will tell me.”

Ruto criticised the opposition, saying they had no clear alternative to his government’s plan.
“You will tell me who has a better plan than the one I have. These other guys (opposition) cannot tell you anything about the economy because they don’t know, and they don’t have a plan,” he said.
“They can’t tell you anything about our children’s education because they don’t know, and they don’t have a plan. They won’t tell you anything.”

He dismissed their recent rhetoric as empty and lacking solutions.
“They will only tell you, ‘Ruto must go,’ ‘Wantam,’ ’Kasongo’… Have they ever explained anything about agriculture even once?” he posed.
“Do they have a different plan from the one I have on healthcare? That is the reality, my friends.”

Addressing the recent youth-led protests, the President called on leaders to stop inciting young people and instead help them find meaningful work.
“We must work together to find lasting solutions to the challenge of unemployment. On our part, we are making deliberate interventions to create jobs. Labour mobility has enabled 400,000 young Kenyans to secure employment abroad in the past two years,” he said.

He added that 320,000 youth are employed under the Affordable Housing Programme, while 180,000 others are engaged in digital jobs through Jitume Labs in technical colleges and the Tatu City Special Economic Zone. He also said the government is establishing digital hubs in all 1,450 wards.

Ruto also said the government has recruited 76,000 teachers and plans to hire an additional 24,000 by January 2026.
“This is the largest teacher recruitment drive in our country’s history,” he said.

The President warned against incitement, saying it threatens national stability, and stressed that the government is focused on creating jobs and restoring hope for young people. He said Kenya’s labour export strategy is protected by bilateral agreements.
“Through bilateral labour agreements, we are able to protect our citizens and offer help whenever they need it,” he said.

He told the clergy that without the creation of more than 900,000 jobs in the past two years, the recent demonstrations would have been worse.
“The task of creating job opportunities for our youth is ongoing. It is not a task that can be completed in one day or one year; it is a work in progress,” he said.

Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to delivering reforms and quoted Abraham Lincoln to stress his determination.
“The greatness of a leader is determined by the cause he believes in and the sacrifice he is willing to make to achieve it.”

He said his administration had made gains in stabilising the economy, lowering inflation from 9.6 percent in 2022 to 3.8 percent, strengthening the shilling from 165 to 130 against the dollar, and raising dollar reserves from $7 billion to $10.8 billion.
“When I took office, Kenya was among six African countries listed for debt default,” he said.

On agriculture, he highlighted the availability of subsidised fertiliser, the drop in maize flour prices from 240 to between 100 and 160 shillings, improved coffee prices from 70 to between 110 and 150 shillings per kilo, and reforms in the sugar sector.“Production has risen from 500,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 800,000 tonnes last year. This year, production is expected to hit 900,000 tonnes. In three years, Kenya will be a net exporter of sugar,” he said.

He promised to deliver universal healthcare and said no Kenyan should have to sell property to pay hospital bills.

The President also defended the construction of a church at State House, saying over 300 families who live within the compound currently worship under poor conditions.
“Those stories you hear that the construction of the church will cost billions is the language of the devil trying to incite the public,” Ruto said.

He reminded the gathering that the Constitution acknowledges Kenya as a God-fearing nation. In return, the religious leaders criticised those opposing the construction of churches across the country.