Ruto Leads Mashujaa Day Celebrations in Eldoret [Photos]

President William Ruto on Tuesday, October 20, led the 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

The event was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, as well as leaders and residents from the three host counties of Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Nandi.

First Lady Rachel Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, among others, were also in attendance.

In his national address, Ruto paid tribute to Kenya’s independence heroes, including Koitalel Arap Samoei, Mekatilili wa Menza, Dedan Kimathi and Field Marshal Muthoni wa Kirima.

He also honoured founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the other members of the Kapenguria Six: Bildad Kaggia, Achieng’ Oneko, Kungu Karumba, Fred Kubai and Paul Ngei.

"Our independence in 1963 was won at an immense cost: land, liberty and lives. We honour those who fought, the families who sustained them, and the countless patriots whose names history did not record. We must never forget what it took to secure our freedom," he said.

Ruto noted that Mashujaa Day was a reminder that the freedoms enjoyed by Kenyans came with the responsibility to build a country where every citizen has an opportunity to prosper.

"Our heroes laid the foundation of our nation; every generation must make its contribution to building upon it," he added.

During his address, Ruto announced four proposed measures aimed at reducing the financial burden on Kenyans, making property ownership more affordable and expanding employment opportunities for young people.

First, the government has prepared proposals to exempt workers earning Ksh32,333 per month or less from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income tax.

Second, the National Treasury has developed proposals to exempt land transactions valued at Ksh1 million or less from stamp duty while introducing progressive rates for higher-value transactions.

Third, the government proposed removing the 25 per cent import duty on mobile phones to make the devices more affordable and expand access to digital opportunities.

Finally, Ruto announced plans to expand the national internship programme from January 1, 2027, to accommodate 50,000 young Kenyans, each receiving a monthly stipend.

"Too many young people cannot secure employment without experience, yet cannot gain experience without employment," he further said.

Ruto also used the national celebrations to outline what he described as progress made by his administration over the past four years under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

He said the government had stabilised the exchange rate, brought inflation under control, expanded access to credit and reformed capital markets.

According to Ruto, the value of Kenya’s stock market had doubled from Ksh2 trillion to Ksh4 trillion, while foreign direct investment increased from $1.5 billion in 2022 to $3.2 billion in 2025.

On agriculture, Ruto said the government had registered 8.9 million farmers and reduced the price of fertiliser under its subsidy programme from Ksh7,500 per bag in 2022 to Ksh2,000.

He added that maize production had increased from 34.3 million bags in 2022 to 71 million bags in 2025.

In the dairy sector, Ruto announced that farmers would earn Ksh65 per litre of milk beginning October 2026, alongside an additional bonus of Ksh2 per litre every month, payable quarterly.

He also highlighted progress in education, healthcare and affordable housing, saying the government had recruited more than 100,000 teachers, constructed 23,000 classrooms and increased the number of Kenyans covered by social health insurance to 33.3 million.

Ruto said 303,910 affordable housing units were at various stages of development, alongside more than 450 modern markets and student accommodation facilities for 180,000 students.

At the same time, Ruto acknowledged public concerns over the cost of living, taxation, unemployment and the pace of government reforms, noting that citizens retained the right to question government decisions and demand better services.

"That demand for accountability has not always been comfortable. Kenyans, particularly young people, have taken to the streets to express their frustrations over the cost of living, taxation, unemployment, and the pace of change.

"Their protests remind us that an electoral mandate does not silence the people between elections. Citizens retain the right to question their government, challenge its decisions and demand better. We must listen, respond, and remain answerable for the commitments we made," he said.

With the next General Election scheduled for 2027, Ruto said the country should focus on leaders’ records, policies and development plans rather than ethnic divisions.

"Our democracy must be a contest of ideas, policies, and programmes, not a competition in ethnic choreography, personality attacks, or empty sloganeering," he said.

Ruto also celebrated Kenya’s sporting heroes, particularly athletes whose achievements have elevated the country’s profile internationally.

He cited Wilson Kiprugut, who won Kenya’s first Olympic medal in 1964, and Kipchoge Keino, who won gold in the 1,500 metres at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Ruto also recognised the achievements of Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Peres Jepchirchir, Faith Cherotich and Lilian Odira, among other athletes.

He said Kenya was preparing to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania, adding that investments were being made in sporting facilities, including the Raila Odinga International Stadium and the modernisation of Kasarani.

In his closing remarks, Ruto urged Kenyans to preserve the freedoms secured by earlier generations while creating opportunities for future generations.

"We inherited the baton of freedom. We must pass on the baton of opportunity," he noted.