Gladys Shollei Says Economy Not Recovering By Mistake: "Ruto Was Working On It Before Elections"

• President William Ruto praised his administration's fiscal measures and interventions that have realised economic recovery
• National Assembly deputy speaker Gladys Boss Shollei reiterated Ruto's sentiments, saying Kenya's economy is recovering on deliberate steps
• Shollei revealed that Ruto's economic advisors, led by David Ndii, started working before he was elected

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

President William Ruto started working on the economic recovery path before he was elected, Gladys Boss Shollei has revealed.

The National Assembly deputy speaker said Ruto was preparing what to do to transform Kenya's economy throughout his campaign period.

How Ruto planned economic recovery

Speaking on a local TV station on Tuesday, April 16, Shollei explained that the economy is recovering based on deliberate steps.

"What is happening to the economy now is because of deliberate steps. All the presidents' economic advisors led by David Ndii were already working, before he was elected, on the plan.

"It is not by mistake. It is exactly the plan that he designed to bring the cost of living down... he is ticking each and every one of the boxes in the plan," said Shollei.

Shollei noted that the plan was focused on reducing imports and increasing exports.

The Uasin Gishu women representative said the full change will be realised after a full financial year following the implementation of the Finance Bill 2023.

What is the current cost of living in Kenya?

Shollei's sentiments came following an ease in Kenya's inflation in March 2024.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported a significant drop in inflation from 6.3% in February 2024 to 5.7% in March 2024.

This was supported by a decrease in prices of basic food items like unga and sugar, whose local production increased the supply.

A spot check by TUKO.co.ke showed that a 2kg packet of unga retailed at an average of KSh 130 across supermarkets, while a 2kg packet of sugar sold for a minimum of KSh 300.

What Ruto said about his economic recovery measures

On Sunday, April 14, the president praised the economic intervention his administration has taken in realising the changes.

Ruto spoke after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) reduced prices of super petrol, diesel, and kerosene down by KSh 5.31, KSh 10 and KSh 18.68 per litre, respectively.

The head of state attributed the strength of the shilling and drop in fuel and unga prices to the tough fiscal measures his government took in the past year.

He challenged all leaders to lead from the front, citing that developed countries made the right decisions.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke