By:Faith Mukundi
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended President William Ruto’s development record, citing progress in healthcare, education, infrastructure and agriculture as he positioned the government’s 2027 re-election campaign around the implementation of its manifesto.
Addressing residents at Kiania Shopping Centre in Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, on Friday, October 16, 2026, Kindiki said the Kenya Kwanza administration had made progress in delivering its campaign pledges, arguing that the next general election should focus on performance rather than political insults and ethnic mobilisation.
“The contest has been framed, its issues not insults, track record not ethnic mobilisation, inclusion rather than marginalisation of sections of our Country,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President maintained that the administration’s development agenda was based on a manifesto shaped by public participation, adding that its implementation was progressing across sectors, including roads, energy, housing, healthcare, education and support for small businesses.
His remarks come as political leaders begin positioning their records and policy priorities ahead of the 2027 General Election, with government performance expected to feature prominently in debates over the country’s direction.
Kindiki Cites Healthcare and Education Gains
Kindiki cited changes in healthcare coverage as one of the administration’s key achievements, saying 33 million people had benefited from a public medical scheme, compared with eight million in 2022.
He also highlighted employment and infrastructure investments in the education sector, saying the government would have employed a record 120,000 teachers by December 2026. He further cited the construction of 23,000 classrooms and 1,600 science laboratories as part of efforts to expand learning facilities.
According to the Deputy President, enrolment in technical and vocational institutions had increased from 297,000 students to 718,000, while the higher education funding model had been expanded to cover students across tertiary institutions, including Kenya Medical Training College campuses.
Kindiki presented the figures as evidence of the administration’s efforts to expand access to public services and strengthen the country’s human resource base.
The figures were cited by the Deputy President during his address and were not independently verified in the statement provided.
Roads, Housing and Infrastructure Projects
The Deputy President also defended the government’s infrastructure programme, saying road construction was continuing in areas he described as historically marginalised and excluded from economic development.
He said affordable housing projects, student hostels and trading spaces were being developed across the country, while reforms in energy and support for small businesses remained part of the administration’s broader economic agenda.
Kindiki argued that these projects reflected the government’s commitment to implementing its manifesto, which he said had been developed through extensive public participation before the 2022 election.
The administration’s infrastructure plans also include the National Infrastructure Fund, which Kindiki said had been established to support the modernisation of railways, airports, roads and seaports.
He also pointed to the Sovereign Wealth Fund, describing it as a mechanism intended to protect and deploy the country’s mineral wealth for the benefit of present and future generations.
The long-term impact of the funds will depend on their implementation, financing arrangements and the projects ultimately undertaken.
Agriculture Reforms and Support for Farmers
Kindiki cited agricultural reforms as another pillar of the government’s development record, pointing to subsidies on key farm inputs, the distribution of milk coolers and efforts to improve productivity and incomes across several value chains.
He mentioned coffee, sugar and avocado among the sectors where the administration was seeking to strengthen production and improve farmers’ earnings.
Agriculture remains a significant economic issue in the Mount Kenya region, where coffee and tea farming support many households. The sector’s performance, including farm-gate prices, production costs and access to markets, is likely to remain part of the political debate ahead of the next election.
The Deputy President also highlighted investments in the Blue Economy, saying infrastructure had been modernised and fisherfolk supported as part of the government’s wider economic programme.
Kindiki Puts Manifesto Delivery at the Centre of 2027 Contest
Kindiki said the Ruto administration was the first in Kenya to campaign on a manifesto generated through grassroots public participation and input, and argued that the government should be assessed against the commitments it made to voters.
He maintained that the 2027 election would provide an opportunity for voters to compare promises made with projects and reforms delivered during the administration’s term.
“The Ruto Administration rode to office on the back of a well thought out manifesto borne out of a very laborious public participation input,” Kindiki said.
He added that implementation of commitments covering economic stabilisation, roads, energy, housing, small businesses, healthcare, education and security was on schedule.
The remarks reflect the administration’s effort to make its development record a central argument for re-election, while challenging rival political leaders to present alternative policies and account for their own records in public office.
However, the government’s claims on implementation and service delivery remain matters for public scrutiny, including whether announced projects are completed on time, reach intended beneficiaries and produce measurable improvements in living standards.
As the 2027 campaign approaches, healthcare access, education funding, employment, infrastructure delivery and the cost of agricultural inputs are likely to remain important issues for voters assessing the government’s performance.