Mashujaa Day: Ruto honours Raila’s vision with plans to cement legacy
President William Ruto has paid glowing tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, highlighting his visionary leadership and outlining ambitious projects aimed at cementing his enduring legacy in Kenya’s development journey.
Speaking on Monday, October 20, 2025, during the Mashujaa Day celebrations held at Ithookwe Stadioum in Kitui County, Ruto recalled Raila’s pivotal role as a former Minister for Energy, praising his steadfast commitment to expanding Kenya’s energy capacity through a diversified mix of hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, and even nuclear power.
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“As a former Minister for Energy, Hon Raila Odinga was a strong advocate for the rapid expansion of our energy capacity through multiple sources, including hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, and nuclear. With abundant energy, we shall power factories, light every home, and drive Kenya to become the industrial hub of East Africa and the continent,” he declared.
“But we cannot industrialise without reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. That is why we have set our sights on expanding Kenya’s energy generation capacity from the current 2,300 megawatts to at least 10,000 megawatts within the next decade.”
Moreover, President announced plans to dualize at least 1,000 kilometers of major highways including key routes such as Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba, Makutano-Embu-Meru, Kitengela-Namanga, Mombasa-Nairobi, and Marua-Nanyuki-Isiolo roads.
“It is in this context that we have committed to dual at least 1,000km of major highways, including the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba, Makutano-Embu-Meru, KitengelaNamanga, Mombasa-Nairobi and Marua-Nanyuki-Isiolo roads, among others.
“At the same time, we must construct an additional 10,000km of new tarmac roads linking farmers, traders, and manufacturers to markets across the nation; and complete the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba, seamlessly connecting Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, the very heart of the African Continental Free Trade Area dream.”
Raila’s Kenya indusrialisation dream
As a way to fulfil Raila’s dream, President Ruto also highlighted ongoing initiatives at the county level, unveiling plans to establish County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in all 47 counties.
He said the parks aim to connect farmers directly with processors, entrepreneurs with markets, and small enterprises with national and regional value chains.
“We are unwavering in our vision that everything Kenya produces must be processed in Kenya. Tea must leave Kenya not as raw leaves, but as packaged excellence; coffee not as cherries, but as premium blends; cotton not as lint, but as fabric and fashion; hides not as raw skin, but as leather shoes and bags branded Made in Kenya,” he said.
The late ODM leader died aged 80 while undergoing specializes treatment in India. He has since been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
