Ruto: Let's create opportunity for all Kenyans

A police officer engages protestors during anti-Finance Bill protests along Standard Street, Nairobi on June 25, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The people of Kenya can firmly and unanimously affirm that Kenya is a free, open and democratic country based on constitutionalism and the rule of law.

Our fundamental rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution and cannot be taken away. They include the freedom of conscience and expression, and the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions.

In the past few weeks, we have witnessed the direct and robust exercise of these rights and freedoms by Kenyans, who called on their government to pay attention to urgent national issues and prioritise necessary changes and reforms to actualise their demands.

It is with deep regret that I have to say many Kenyans lost their lives, and others have been seriously injured as a result of disturbances occasioned by lawless activity during the protests.

This is not how and where our democracy should proceed, and we must do all we can to ensure this does not occur again in future. The government will provide support to the families of those citizens who lost their loved ones.

Unfortunately, there have been many instances of excessive, unlawful, dangerous and harmful conduct during the demonstrations and engagements as a consequence of which many persons have been arrested and charged in court. I urge the criminal justice agencies to take effective measures and ensure people who may have been innocently caught up on the wrong side of proceedings, and those not implicated in crimes are released.

This will enable the agencies to focus their resources, efforts and time to investigating and prosecuting serious criminal elements who took advantage of peaceful demonstrations to advance a dangerous agenda. It is important that these suspects are brought to book and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I also take this opportunity to affirm the constitutional authority and duty vested in our national security institutions to protect our country against internal and external threats to our sovereignty, the lives of our people, our rights, freedoms, property, peace, stability and prosperity.

Consequently, I call on the National Police Service to use its mandate responsibly, professionally, effectively and in full compliance with the Constitution with a view to promoting the national objectives of Articles 238, 239 and 244. All breaches and violations by police officers must be handled expeditiously through due process.

As citizens of this great nation, we all have a duty to balance our rights and responsibilities at all times so that the legitimate exercise of our rights and freedoms does not undermine our broader aspirations to remain a civilised, democratic and peaceful country.

Over the last month, the livelihoods and property of many innocent people have also been destroyed, plunging them into destitution and jeopardising the welfare of their dependents. The government will take measures to support these Kenyans on the path of recovery. I direct relevant ministries to obtain, verify and provide accurate data to facilitate appropriate government action within 30 days.

I want to give the people of Kenya an assurance that their government listens to them and that, for the last month, I have led the government in engaging with and listening to citizens from all walks of life.

What has emerged as the foremost national concern requiring urgent and decisive action is the vexing matter of corruption and the non-negotiable desire for accountable leadership and integrity in governance. I have this to say to Kenyans: I have heard you clearly.

Consequently, the following measures shall be taken:

i. I will be proposing amendments to the Evidence Act, and the Criminal Procedure Code, among other necessary legislative amendments to all statutes relating to corruption, to expedite the investigation and prosecution of corruption and economic crimes cases and provide for their conclusion within 6 months.

We shall also be proposing amendments to the Witness Protection Act to overhaul the statutory and institutional framework to protect and incentivise whistle-blowers and enhance witness protection, making it easier and safer for citizens to report corruption.

iii. Within 90 days, we shall propose amendments to the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act to overhaul the institutional and operational framework of public procurement which has been identified as the epicentre of corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of office in the public sector, with a view to deploying a digital infrastructure within 6 months.

iv. I have engaged with the parliamentary leadership and asked Parliament to expeditiously pass the Conflict of Interests Bill with the explicit caveat that I shall veto any Bill enacted if it does not establish a high bar with respect to accountability, integrity and anti-corruption. I will make full use of the power given to me under Article 115 of the Constitution to make sure the Bill meets the appropriate standards set out in the original bill.

v. While fully respecting the independence of the national justice, law and order institutions, and pursuant to a commitment to consult and collaborate in leveraging their institutional capabilities in effective, expeditious and conclusive investigations in respect of all active cases, it is essential for these institutions to provide a timeframe within which proceedings shall be concluded and the same clearly communicated to the public.

vi. About Sh400 billion is spent on tax expenditure every year, especially on VAT refunds, a process that is largely opaque, and with limited accountability. Within 90 days, I will be working with Parliament to provide a legislative and regulatory framework to make this process transparent, open and accountable.

vii. The government will also work with Parliament to tighten legislation to reduce and eliminate imports of goods and products manufactured in Kenya so as to promote our value addition, manufacturing and industrialisation.

In my last address to the nation, I undertook to consult a broad spectrum of stakeholders from all sectors, levels and regions in order to constitute a broad-based government. 

In line with this undertaking, I will be forwarding additional names to Parliament for vetting prior to appointment based on the understanding of the Cabinet's essential role in driving the transformational agenda.

Once constituted, the new Cabinet will steward our transformation agenda in providing effective and efficient public services, expanding opportunities for employment and wealth creation, and creating a tide that lifts every boat.

Our explicit aim is to transform Kenya into a middle-income society and it is essential for us to urgently mobilise adequate resources to fund these necessary programmes and projects.

-This is an abridged version of President William Ruto's address to the nation yesterday.