Mutahi Ngunyi: Ruto built 30 times more than Kenya’s founding leaders
Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has sparked debate after crediting President William Ruto with achieving unprecedented economic growth within a short span of his presidency.
In a statement shared via his official X account on the night of Thursday, July 31, 2025, Ngunyi claimed that in just three years, Ruto has built an economy worth Ksh4 trillion—nearly 30 times what previous regimes collectively managed over nine decades.
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“For 90 years, Kenya was led by the COLONISERS, Jomo, Moi, and Kibaki. And for 90 years, together they built an economy worth 5.1 trillion under Kibaki. But in 3 years, Ruto has built an economy worth 4 trillion. This is 30 times what our Founding Fathers BUILT. Wapi Matusi?” Ngunyi noted.
The comparison has sparked mixed reactions online, with critics questioning the basis of the figures and supporters praising Ruto’s economic approach as transformative.
Widespread criticism of govt
Ngunyi’s remarks appear to counter widespread criticism of the government’s economic policies, especially amid rising taxes, public debt, and cost-of-living concerns.
President Ruto has consistently defended his economic reforms, touting them as necessary for long-term stability, industrialisation, and poverty reduction.
Tanzania to overtake Kenya
Ngunyi’s remarks come two days after Ahmed Hashi, one of the governance experts, said Tanzania is likely to overtake Kenya in terms of overall development, pointing to a more conducive environment that gives room for real work to happen.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Hashi said that Tanzania has managed to structure its politics and society in a way that supports progress, unlike Kenya.
According to Hashi, Kenya is currently struggling because of poor leadership decisions and endless political noise, which have slowed down service delivery and real development on the ground.
“The way Tanzania has structured their politics and society, it will overtake us. We need a working nation. The problem with the government is statecraft, because the president has brought about a tribal grouping in government and incompetent people,” Hashi said.
He added that Kenya’s current government is too focused on political survival rather than building strong systems and solving real problems affecting citizens. He also criticised the frequent political gatherings and power struggles that have taken the attention of top leaders away from service delivery.
