The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, was born out of the people’s
deepest desire for justice, inclusivity, and dignity. We longed for
a country where power belongs to the people, where no Kenyan
is left behind, and where rights and freedoms are guaranteed for
all.

2. Today, on the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the
   Constitution, we celebrate Katiba Day to honour this covenant
   and to renew our fidelity to its vision. This Constitution is
   acclaimed across the world as one of the most progressive and
   transformative. It is our solemn duty to preserve it, protect it,
   and ensure its full implementation.
3. Ladies and Gentlemen, our Constitution was born out of hard
   and painful lessons. The tragic events of 2007-2008, for
   example, reminded us how far our nation could descend when
   institutions fail, when resources are hoarded by a few, and when
   divisions are cynically exploited. From that moment of crisis, we
   made a solemn resolve – Never Again. Never again would Kenya
   be brought to the brink of collapse by impunity and injustice, for
   we knew that we, as a people, deserved better, and our country
   demanded better.
4. Katiba 2010 became our national testimony, our solemn vow to
   build a free, democratic, inclusive, and united Kenya. Over the
   past 15 years, we have walked that journey; we have injected
   life into this great charter.
   
5. Fellow Kenyans, as stipulated in Article 174, devolution has
   come alive. It has fostered equity by distributing resources fairly
   and addressing historical imbalances. Since the birth of
   devolution 12 years ago, the National Government has
   transferred a total of KSh4 trillion to counties. Today, every
   corner of Kenya has a functional county government, closer to
   the people than ever before.
6. From my first day in office, I affirmed that devolution would not
   merely be a constitutional provision, but the crown jewel of our
   democratic governance. I pledged to accelerate the full transfer
   of all outstanding devolved functions, as assigned in the Fourth
   Schedule of our Constitution, together with the requisite
   resources.
7. This commitment was formalised during the 11th National and
   County Government Coordinating Summit at State House,
   Nairobi, on 16th December 2024. Today, all 14 devolved
   functions have been conclusively delineated, unbundled, and
   formally gazetted, eliminating longstanding ambiguities that
   hampered service delivery and fuelled inter-governmental
   disputes.
8. To further underscore this commitment, two weeks ago, I
   signed into law two landmark pieces of legislation: The County
   Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the County
   Allocation of Revenue Act, 2025.
   ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, Ph.D., C.G.H., PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND
   COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES, ON THE OCCASION OF THE KATIBA@15 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
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   In line with Article 217 of the Constitution, these laws reinforce
   the principle of equitable revenue sharing among counties,
   guarantee fairness in the distribution of national resources,
   empower county assemblies to play their rightful role, and clearly
   define the respective mandates of both the National and County
   governments.
9. Under my leadership, the National Government is committed to
   supporting devolution by ensuring the timely disbursement of
   funds and steadily increasing allocations to counties. Under the
   Division of Revenue Act, 2025, we have allocated an
   unprecedented KSh415 billion to counties, as Chairman of the
   Council of Governors, FCPA Ahmed Abdullahi has affirmed,
   nearly KSh30 billion more than last year’s KSh387 billion.
10. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bill of Rights, enshrined in Chapter 4
    of the Constitution, is the heart of our democratic order. It
    guarantees every Kenyan fundamental freedoms and socioeconomic rights, including the right to education, health,
    housing, food, water, and dignity as set out in Article 43.
11. Over the past 15 years, we have worked diligently to breathe life
    into these rights. Free primary and day secondary education has
    opened doors of opportunity to millions of children from every
    corner of our nation. We have successfully transitioned to the
    Competency-Based Education and Training system, making our
    education more relevant, practical, and aligned with the
    demands of the 21st Century.
    
    
12. Our student-centred funding model is expanding access for
    learners while securing the sustainability of our universities. By
    January next year, we will have recruited a record 100,000 new
    teachers in just three years, a significant achievement that has
    strengthened our education system and improved learning
    outcomes across the country.
13. Fellow Kenyans, our Affordable Housing Programme is delivering
    safe and decent homes to families across the country, affirming
    that shelter is not a privilege for a few, but a constitutional
    entitlement for all. Today, over 160,000 housing units are under
    construction, each one providing not only a roof over a family’s
    head but also creating thousands of jobs for our young people,
    artisans, and professionals.
14. On Universal Health Coverage, we are ensuring that illness no
    longer drives families into poverty and that access to quality
    healthcare is upheld as the right of every citizen. Despite the
    inevitable challenges of transition, which are being
    systematically addressed, the progress is demonstrable and
    undeniable. As of today, 25.7 million Kenyans have registered
    with the Social Health Authority (SHA), a clear indication of
    confidence in this reform. Through SHA, we are delivering
    healthcare to millions of Kenyans in direct, practical, and
    impactful ways.
15. Ladies and Gentlemen, our independent institutions, established
    under Chapter 15 of the Constitution, are the pillars that
    safeguard the sovereignty of the people.
    ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, Ph.D., C.G.H., PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES, ON THE OCCASION OF THE KATIBA@15 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
    6
    The Judiciary, Parliament, and constitutional commissions
    operate independently to ensure justice is served, resources are
    protected, and leadership remains accountable.
16. Yet, while independent, they are also interdependent, bound
    together by the shared duty to uphold the Constitution and serve
    the public good. Parliament relies on reports from oversight
    agencies; the Judiciary requires laws passed by Parliament; and
    the Executive depends on the checks and guidance of all
    institutions to deliver effectively.
17. This balance of independence and interdependence is the genius
    of our constitutional design: No arm of government, no office,
    and no commission can claim supremacy because they are all
    answerable to the people. In this way, our institutions work not
    in competition, but in complementarity, to protect democracy,
    entrench accountability, and advance the aspirations of every
    Kenyan.
18. Fellow patriots, our national values, set out in Article 10 of the
    Constitution, are not only a key pillar of our constitutional order
    but also the very foundation of our stability as a nation. They
    remind us that Kenya must always be anchored in patriotism,
    national unity, democracy, participation of the people, human
    dignity, equity, social justice, inclusivity, equality, human rights,
    non-discrimination, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
    ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, Ph.D., C.G.H., PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES, ON THE OCCASION OF THE KATIBA@15 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
    7
19. Today, on this Katiba Day, as we renew our commitment to the
    ideals of the Constitution, we must ask ourselves honest, candid
    questions: Are we truly patriotic? Are we living with integrity in
    public and private life? Are we inclusive, leaving no one behind?
    Are we accountable to one another, to our institutions, and to
    future generations?
20. Corruption is a serious threat to our progress as a nation. It
    undermines our Constitution, weakens our institutions, and
    erodes the well-being of every Kenyan. It is a fact that corruption
    exists in all arms of government – the Executive, the Legislature,
    and the Judiciary, and each must confront this menace with
    honesty and resolve.
21. I have always reiterated my resolve to serve as a responsible
    steward of public resources. We have digitised and automated
    government services to seal loopholes and eliminate
    opportunities for corruption. Today, Kenyans can access over
    22,000 services on e-Citizen, up from only 325 a few years ago.
    The results are evident: Revenue collection has risen
    dramatically to over KSh1billion daily, translating to more than
    KSh500 billion annually.
22. Yet, I admit there is still much more to be done to combat
    corruption within the Executive. Corruption must be chased
    down every alley, every corridor, and every corner of the
    Executive by every well-meaning citizen whenever it is spotted.
    I, William Samoei Ruto, President of Kenya, fully support the
    rigorous and expeditious prosecution of any corruption case
    backed by evidence.