Kindiki: Kenya's economic recovery continues in 2025

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. [Standard, File]

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki says Kenya’s economy is recovering, with improved stability in key areas including the shilling, household incomes and progress in reducing fuel and essential commodity prices.

In a statement on Thursday, January 02, Kindiki noted that deliberate interventions over the past two years have led to steady macroeconomic recovery.

“This is the year that the hard and difficult task of transforming our country will start yielding returns,” said Kindiki.

Kindiki said 2025 marks a pivotal year, with the government accelerating key efforts aimed at microeconomic recovery, job creation, wealth growth and enhancing household incomes.

 The focus, he noted, is on sustained reforms targeting agriculture, livestock, fisheries and the blue economy, alongside the completion of special economic zones, affordable housing projects, ICT hubs and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks.

This he observed would contribute to economic growth and boost per capita income.

By the end of the year, Kindiki noted that initiatives including Universal Health Coverage Program – Taifa Care – and ongoing education reforms will further reduce out-of-pocket expenses on health and education, leaving households with more disposable incomes.

His statement comes amid speculations of his fallout with President William Ruto.

Kindiki has been conspicuously absent from public events, leaving Ruto to appear alone at public functions without his principal assistant.

On November 1 last year, while heaping accolades on the professor of law, Ruto narrated how lonely he had been for two years after falling out with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

 Kindiki’s last public appearance was on December 17 when he accompanied the President to the Baringo Cultural Festival and Kimalel goat auction, where he pledged that he would continue working under Ruto.

While the President gave a detailed speech on the successes of his administration and offered hope as top leaders danced into the New Year at the Kisii State Lodge, Kindiki only posted a one-line message.

"Happy, blessed, and joyous 2025. God bless your families, God bless Kenya," he posted on X at 12:13am on January 1, signing off with "Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya."

Although Kindiki was unreachable, his handlers claimed he was in South Africa for a holiday, having instructed his officers to go on leave since December 23.

“We were given 15 days of leave before the boss left for South Africa, remember he has not rested since the Kenya Kwanza administration took over and he needed to unwind,” an officer who requested anonymity told The Standard.

At the same time, he dismissed online speculations associating Kindiki’s absence with tensions between him and Ruto aides over the independence of the Deputy President’s office, saying:

 “Those are baseless allegations. The Deputy President is in good terms with his boss, and he doesn’t need to justify that through public meetings. Many times, they even held private engagements. The DP operates that way sometimes without the full glare of cameras.”