President William Ruto has defended his administration’s economic record, insisting that Kenya’s economy has been stabilised despite what he described as misleading reports about the country’s financial situation.
Speaking to Kenyans living in the United States in New York on Monday, September 21, 2026, Ruto said his government had made progress in improving key economic indicators.
The President pointed to falling inflation and interest rates, stronger foreign exchange reserves and reduced concerns about debt default as signs of improvement.
Ruto said Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves had increased from about KSh738 billion to KSh1.98 trillion.
He also said inflation and interest rates had come down compared with the difficult economic conditions his administration inherited.
“Forget the fake stories,” Ruto told Kenyans, as he sought to defend the government’s record on the economy.
The President compared the current situation with the economic challenges Kenya faced in earlier years, including high inflation, limited foreign exchange and elevated interest rates.
He attributed the changes to what he described as deliberate decisions made by his administration.
Ruto’s comments come as he begins a series of engagements in New York, where he is attending events linked to the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
His economic message is also part of a wider effort to attract investment and encourage Kenyans in the diaspora to contribute to the country’s development.
Earlier, the Kenyan government, the United Nations in Kenya and Equity Group Holdings signed a Joint Declaration of Intent aimed at increasing diaspora participation through investment, enterprise development and skills transfer.
The President has continued to highlight economic stability, investment and technology as key areas of his administration’s agenda.
His latest remarks are likely to fuel further debate over the state of Kenya’s economy, particularly as Kenyans continue to assess the government’s record against the cost of living and other economic pressures.