Remarks · 17 April 2025
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I welcome you all to witness the appointment of successful nominees to various high-responsibility positions within the National Executive. I commend each of you for stepping forward to serve the nation at the highest levels of government, and I congratulate you on successfully navigating the rigorous vetting process and securing parliamentary approval.
I must emphasise; if you were not already aware, that the real test begins today. You can only afford a brief pause before plunging into the deep end of public affairs, where scrutiny is rigorous, relentless and unforgiving. I trust you possess the knowledge, experience, and resilience not only to endure the demands of your new roles but to serve the people of Kenya with diligence, loyalty, integrity, and compassion.
I am confident that you understand this context better than most, not only because you experienced it during vetting but also because you made the significant life and career decision to join the government at a time when public expectations are exceptionally high. Every day, we face numerous, diverse, and forceful allegations, accusations, and demands. We must take these seriously, always remembering that, as the Executive, we are trustees of the people and ultimately accountable for the use of public authority and resources.
The people are highly conscious that only by efficiently providing services to every citizen in every part of Kenya and managing each sector to enable workers and entrepreneurs to seize opportunities, will we recover lost ground and achieve the prosperity we all aspire to. Expectations have never been higher, and failure is not an option. Our only valid response to criticism and demands is to perform our duties in a manner that increases public confidence in the government.
You are joining the Executive at a defining midpoint; a moment that calls for greater effort and deeper commitment to achieving a national transformation that leaves no one behind.
You have been called to serve, not for personal gain, but to contribute to a team working to consolidate our progress and accelerate the implementation of our bold transformation agenda. This mission demands focus, diligence, professionalism, accountability, and tireless dedication.
Our collective mission is clear: to turbocharge our economy, create opportunities, beginning with jobs for the youth, deliver universal healthcare, reform agriculture, expand affordable housing, fix education, improve infrastructure, ensure access to clean water and electricity, and do all this with unprecedented speed and scale.
You are joining the government at a critical juncture. In its initial phase, this administration focused on stabilising the economy by boosting productivity, reducing public debt, controlling inflation, managing the cost of living and exchange rate fluctuations, and mitigating post-pandemic disruptions. That tough phase has now been successfully completed.
We are now witnessing the results of those foundational efforts. Inflation is falling. The shilling has stabilised against major international currencies. Farmers in the tea, coffee, milk, and sugar sectors are enjoying higher yields and better prices, owing to our strategic interventions like the provision of subsidised fertilizer and expanded and improved market access.
We are creating thousands of jobs through the Affordable Housing Programme, the digital economy, and our labour mobility programme. In education, we have hired 76,000 teachers and made notable progress in implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum and a new university funding model that is empowering students and rescuing over 20 higher learning institutions from financial collapse.
In infrastructure, we have begun settling long-overdue payments owed to suppliers, recently releasing over KSh60 billion to contractors. This will revive stalled road projects nationwide and help connect 1.2 million more Kenyans to electricity by 2027.
In healthcare, we are achieving the long-awaited goal of universal coverage. While the National Health Insurance Fund once covered only 8 million people, more than 21 million Kenyans have now registered with the new Social Health Authority within just six months, with over 40,000 new registrations every day. Initial technical and operational bottlenecks have been surmounted and it is fair to say that no previous administration has attempted reform of such scale and ambition in the health sector. Despite initial scepticism, the results are now clear: Kenya is finally advancing toward equitable and inclusive healthcare.
As you take up your roles, remember that this is not merely about maintaining the formalities of government. We are in the midst of a comprehensive national transformation. Our governing agenda is broad-based and inclusive, our vision is bold and ambitious, and our duty is to carry every Kenyan along as we channel services, infrastructure, opportunities and resources across the country.
You are now part of a broad-based government of loyal public servants, united to deliver progress that will be remembered for generations. Your vision and mission must therefore transcend regional, gender, religious and cultural distinctions and serve all in accordance with the solemn oath you have taken; Without fear, favour, malice or ill-will. Every citizen must feel represented, heard, and served.
To drive this inclusive transformation, and after due consultation, I have restructured government departments to align their mandates with emerging opportunities and to effectively meet the urgent challenges of our time. The expectation is clear: we are one cohesive team. While you will serve in different ministries, you are all part of a coordinated government working together to deliver results.
Our approach will be unified, collaborative, and focused on outcomes, ensuring that government as a whole is more effective and more efficient than the sum of its parts.
Going forward, know this: there is only one path to success in public service; through integrity, diligence, and patriotic service. Conversely, the shortest way to failure is through indolence, apathy, theft, corruption, negligence, tribalism and inability to work in a team.
On behalf of the people of Kenya, I invite you to bring your education, experience, insight, integrity, and patriotism to bear in making this government more responsive, effective, and transformative.
I pray that Almighty God grants you the wisdom, motivation, vision, and character to serve effectively. I thank you. God bless you. God bless Kenya. Happy Easter to you all.