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Kenya, October 20, 2026 - President William Ruto used Mashujaa Day in Eldoret to share new plans that he says will put more money into the pockets of ordinary Kenyans.
These plans are meant to help families keep more of what they earn, make it easier to own land, bring phones and digital tools within reach of more people, and give young people a better chance to move from school into real work.
One of the biggest changes is a plan to stop taxing people who earn up to 33,000 shillings a month. Right now, many workers in this group still pay income tax even though their pay is not very high.
If this plan goes through, those workers will take home more money every month. That extra cash can go toward food, rent, school fees, transport, or even a little savings. For families living on tight budgets, keeping that money instead of sending it to the tax office can make a real difference in daily life.
Another plan aims to help more Kenyans own land. The government wants to stop charging duty on land deals that cost one million shillings or less. Duty is an extra fee people must pay when they buy land. For small pieces of land or modest plots, that fee can push the total cost out of reach.
Removing it would make it cheaper and simpler for ordinary families to buy land. Owning even a small piece of land can give people a sense of security and a chance to build something for the future.
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The President also wants to scrap the 25 percent duty on mobile phones. Phones are no longer just fancy gadgets. They are tools people use every day to do business, send money, look for work, study, and stay connected.
The high duty makes phones more expensive and keeps many people stuck with old or second-hand devices. Taking away the duty would lower prices. Cheaper phones mean more Kenyans can join the digital world, open online shops, find jobs, or learn new skills. This could open doors for people who have been left out of the digital economy.
Looking ahead to January 2027, Ruto plans to grow the national internship programme so it can take in 50,000 more young people who have just left school or college. These interns would get a stipend, which is money to help them while they work, and they would be placed in real jobs through a proper system.
Many young Kenyans finish their studies but cannot get hired because they lack experience. This programme is meant to fix that problem. By giving them real work practice and some pay, it can help break the cycle of finishing school and then sitting at home. It creates a clearer path from the classroom to a proper job.
Taken together, these plans try to ease pressure on households today while building chances for the future. Lower taxes keep more money in people’s hands. Cheaper land helps families own property. Affordable phones open digital doors. And more internships give young people a practical start in the working world.