Kenya, 11 January 2026 - President William Ruto on Sunday used a church service in Nyeri County to defend his education reforms and roll out billions of shillings in new development projects, saying his administration was building on the legacy of Kenya’s past presidents to secure the future of the country’s children.
Speaking at ACK Kariki Church in Chinga Ward, Othaya Constituency, the President said education remained the most powerful tool for transforming society.
“Education is the biggest empowerment that any society can give its citizens. That is why our founding President put in place a firm foundation in the Republic of Kenya by giving us a clarion call to eliminate illiteracy,” Ruto said.
He traced Kenya’s education journey through successive administrations, noting that each president had expanded access to learning.
“Our second President built on that foundation and opened up opportunities for more children to embrace education. Our third President told us that our children should go to school and not be charged school fees. Our fourth President told us to have a 100 per cent transition from one level of learning to the other,” he said, adding that chiefs were instructed to ensure no child stayed at home.
Ruto said his administration had focused on improving learning conditions by expanding infrastructure, staffing and financing.
“Now, personally, I picked up from the foundation of my predecessors and ensured that all children who are learning have enough classrooms, enough teachers and there is enough resources to facilitate their learning. That is the job that I have been doing,” he said.
The President announced that wide-ranging reforms introduced in the last three years were already yielding results.
“That is why I want to announce to you that in the last three years, I have reformed the education curriculum and it is working,” Ruto said.
He disclosed that the government, working with Members of Parliament, had built 23,000 classrooms across the country and hired 100,000 new teachers.
“In partnership with MPs, we have built 23,000 classrooms. In the last three years that I have been in the top leadership, we have employed 100,000 new teachers. This week alone, we have employed 24,000 new teachers and they will be in their respective classes next week imparting knowledge to our learners,” he said.
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Ruto also said the Treasury had prioritised timely disbursement of school funds to avoid disruptions.
“We have ensured that funds to facilitate education to our children is channeled to our schools before the learners get to schools. Last week, before the reopening of schools, we have already released KSh 44 billion to our schools,” he said.
Turning to infrastructure, the President said his tour of Nyeri County would end on Tuesday, and pledged to complete stalled road projects, including the Mau Mau Road.
“We have Mau Mau Road which we started as government under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, which is almost 600 kilometres. The roads had reached 20 per cent completion and there came lack of funds. From last year, we have acquired adequate resources and the roads are ongoing,” he said.
He announced that KSh 2 billion had been awarded to contractors to complete key sections linking Othaya, Kieni and Tetu constituencies.
“This year, we have awarded KSh2 billion to our contractors to construct the section of the road linking Othaya-Kieni-Tetu constituencies. I want to assure you that before the end of this year, that road will be complete. Don’t worry, we will complete road projects in Nyeri County,” Ruto said.
The President also unveiled major investments in housing and markets.
“In our affordable housing programme, we have allocated KSh 21 billion to complete the housing projects in Nyeri County. We are building 15 modern markets in Nyeri County. Our manifesto of uplifting the livelihoods of mama mboga was not a mere story. It is a reality,” he said.
The church service was led by ACK Mt Kenya West Bishop Gerald Mureithi and was attended by MPs and senior government officials from the Mt Kenya region who accompanied the President.
Nyeri County is the political backyard of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

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