President William Ruto says he has no regrets about the difficult choices made since taking office—declaring that every single day of his presidency is accounted for as he marks 1,000 days in power.

In a reflective yet confident address, Ruto described the state of Kenya’s economy when he assumed office in August 2022: soaring inflation, a weakening shilling, dwindling forex reserves, and the looming threat of a sovereign default.

“I had to make very difficult decisions to stop Kenya from defaulting on its foreign obligations,” Ruto said. “Those decisions were not easy—but they were necessary.”

From Crisis to Stability

At the time, inflation stood at 9%, the Kenyan shilling had slumped to 167 against the dollar, and foreign exchange reserves barely covered 2.5 months of imports. But Ruto insists those days are behind the country.

Now, inflation is down to 3.8%, forex reserves have more than doubled to $10.3 billion, and the country has avoided the feared debt crisis.

He emphasized that the interventions were not quick fixes, but part of a deliberate strategy to build a stronger, more resilient economy.

“We are stabilising the economy, restoring investor confidence, and putting Kenya back on a firm growth trajectory,” he told a gathering at State House that included musicians and creatives.

Debt and Discipline

One of the key challenges Ruto inherited was ballooning public debt, which stood at Sh8.6 trillion in 2022. The latest figures from January 2025 show a drop to Sh5.09 trillion, thanks largely to the strengthening shilling and tightened fiscal controls.

Ruto attributed this progress to policies grounded in transparency, fiscal discipline, and long-term reforms, rather than populist politics.

The Bigger Picture

He acknowledged that the journey has not been without criticism but urged Kenyans to see the broader vision.

“This is about securing a better future for our children. We are building a strong foundation—not just chasing headlines.”

Ruto’s 1,000-day milestone comes at a time when Kenya is ranked among the fastest-growing economies in Africa, with GDP growth indicators pointing upward.