The Kenya Kwanza administration made 243 campaign promises, but only 26—about 11 per cent—have been fulfilled four years into its term.
The slow pace of delivery has raised questions about whether the government has managed to turn its ambitious agenda into meaningful results for Kenyans.
One of the biggest concerns is the country’s rising debt. Data from the National Treasury shows that public debt has increased from about Ksh8 trillion to Ksh13 trillion during the four years of the administration.
The increase has been described as the largest rise in public debt recorded during a single presidential term since independence.
RELATED ARTICLE: Man catches wife cheating in their matrimonial bed while little daughter sat on the floor - Fear women (VIDEO)An economic analysis by the Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) attributed some of the difficulties to weak financial discipline, arguing that the government has struggled to create enough fiscal space to implement projects under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The pressure is also being felt in the way borrowed money is being used.
For the first time since independence, Kenya is projected to borrow to finance recurrent expenditure, including salaries and allowances for senior State officials, rather than relying on borrowing mainly for development projects.
Treasury figures for the 2026/27 financial year show a budget deficit of about Ksh1.1 trillion, which will have to be financed through borrowing.
Of this amount, at least Ksh300 billion is expected to go towards recurrent expenditure.
Domestic borrowing has added another challenge.
The government has increasingly turned to local banks to finance its spending, raising concerns that heavy government borrowing could crowd out private businesses from accessing affordable credit.
The result, according to critics, is that businesses face difficulties expanding, creating jobs and investing in the economy.
The contrast between debt repayment and spending on essential services has also attracted attention.
The pressure is also being felt in the way borrowed money is being used.
For the first time since independence, Kenya is projected to borrow to finance recurrent expenditure, including salaries and allowances for senior State officials, rather than relying on borrowing mainly for development projects.
Treasury figures for the 2026/27 financial year show a budget deficit of about Ksh1.1 trillion, which will have to be financed through borrowing.
Of this amount, at least Ksh300 billion is expected to go towards recurrent expenditure.
Domestic borrowing has added another challenge.
The government has increasingly turned to local banks to finance its spending, raising concerns that heavy government borrowing could crowd out private businesses from accessing affordable credit.
The result, according to critics, is that businesses face difficulties expanding, creating jobs and investing in the economy.
The contrast between debt repayment and spending on essential services has also attracted attention.
REOMMENDED: “Ni Kama Baba Jayden Anaoja Auntie” - Married woman confronts her pregnant househelp! Suspects she is having an affair with her husband (VIDEO)TISA data indicates that the government has allocated about Ksh400 billion to education in the 2026/27 financial year, covering areas such as schools, teachers and learning equipment.
This is significantly lower than the Ksh1.6 trillion set aside for debt repayment.
Healthcare faces a similar imbalance, with hospital spending standing at about Ksh200 billion, compared with Ksh1.6 trillion going towards debt repayment.
The figures have put Ruto's economic promises under renewed scrutiny, particularly the pledge to transform the economy from the bottom up.
This is significantly lower than the Ksh1.6 trillion set aside for debt repayment.
Healthcare faces a similar imbalance, with hospital spending standing at about Ksh200 billion, compared with Ksh1.6 trillion going towards debt repayment.
The figures have put Ruto's economic promises under renewed scrutiny, particularly the pledge to transform the economy from the bottom up.
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