Ruto dreams of great leap forward without fighting corruption

President William Ruto inspects a guard of honor mounted by KDF personnel during the State of the Nation address at Parliament on November 20, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] President William Ruto yesterday outlined his vision to propel Kenya into first-world status, citing examples from global success stories such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. While Ruto urged Kenyans to make bold decisions to realise the country's long-held potential, questions lingered over the government's commitment to fighting corruption, a key obstacle to achieving these goals. Ruto said that at independence, these "Asian Tigers" were Kenya's peers in nearly every measurable way, yet they refused to accept mediocrity. "We must cast off the prevailing mindset of being content with the average; we must step beyond the comfort of the familiar and ordinary and reach, with courage, clarity and conviction, for nothing less than excellence and greatness," he said during his State of the Nation Address. However, analysts noted that some of the comparisons were historically inaccurate. By 1970, Japan had already industrialised, producing cars and high-precision technology such as cameras and enjoyed higher literacy rates, while Kenya was still developing secondary schools, with its first university only established by an Act of Parliament on July 1, 1970. The President's speech drew mixed reactions, with critics arguing that it overlooked corruption, a persistent issue undermining development. Kenya's higher echelons of public service continue to be plagued by officials implicated in graft scandals. Some MPs argued that without addressing corruption, ambitious plans will remain out of reach. Wajir South MP Mohammed Adow said: "It is good to dream and some of the models the President mentioned have worked elsewhere. But he ignored the elephant in the room, corruption. How can we achieve these ideas without a strong anti-corruption system? That will be the single biggest obstacle." Seme MP James Nyikal added: "The President highlighted big plans but missed critical issues like international obligations, security and corruption. If we do not deal with corruption in this country, nothing will change." International obligations Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi criticised the speech's futuristic focus, noting that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) expected action on its 10-point agenda, which includes abductions, extrajudicial killings, corruption, historical injustices and public debt reduction. "His speech gave no timelines, yet we only have one and a half years to the next general election," Osotsi said. Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna echoed the concerns: "Corruption must be addressed. We need to ensure that every shilling contributed by Kenyans is accounted for. The President did not adequately address this issue." In contrast, Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda defended the government, saying, "The Ministry of Health, for example, has tackled fraud cases. On curbing corruption, the President focused on development moving forward rather than repeating past efforts." Interestingly, Ruto praised the 13th Parliament for its legislative role, reversing previous criticisms of lawmakers as fueling corruption through bribes from Cabinet Secretaries and governors. "Allow me to express profound gratitude to the 13th Parliament for your outstanding contribution, foresight, consistency, focus and commitment to what is good for Kenya," he said to a standing ovation from some MPs. Ruto stated that leadership is measured by action and impact, not rhetoric. "Leaders are judged by the difference they make in people's lives," he said. He also warned critics against spreading false narratives.

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