Look beyond politics to understand what has changed in four years

Ordinarily, every person or leader has his or her own hits and misses either in the daily pursuit of their personal goals or in leadership. The scorecard of leadership appraisal should be an objective and balanced review without political bias to blind people from the progress made.

Consequently, President William Ruto's 4-year leadership shouldn't be judged reprehensively in the narrow lens of political difference, ethnicity or be just seen for his meteoric rise. His leadership should be buoyed by facts that are undeniable and data that is verifiable. The current inertia to deny his achievements and cast him in an insidious light negates the principles of our young democracy.

In the last four years, the President had a penchant for using data to explain his development. This calls for unpacking that data to help mwananchi understand the change. His scorecard should therefore be explained impartially and in a simple way. Every government has its successes and failures. No administration can deliver everything it promises, and no leader can satisfy everyone.

That is why the performance of President Ruto's administration should be discussed through facts, evidence and results rather than through personal feelings about him. As the country reflects on the first four years of his administration, Kenyans have every right to ask a simple question: What has actually changed?

The answer requires looking beyond political speeches and social-media arguments and examining what can be seen, measured and independently verified. One of the biggest issues facing Kenyans when the administration came to power was the high cost of living.

Inflation has since come down. Official KNBS figures show that annual inflation was 4.5 per cent in December 2025, while the annual average inflation rate for 2025 was about 4.1 per cent. This does not mean life has suddenly become cheap.

Food, rent, transport, school fees and other household expenses remain a major concern for many families. But inflation coming down means that, generally, prices are increasing at a slower rate than they were during periods of much higher inflation. That distinction is important. A reduction in inflation means the speed at which prices are rising has slowed.

Agriculture has been one of the main pillars of the administration. The government has invested heavily in subsidised fertiliser and other agricultural programmes, with the aim of reducing production costs and increasing food production. If farmers produce more at a lower cost, the country can improve food security while farmers earn better.

The results need to be judged not only by the number of bags produced but also by what farmers get. That is why agricultural reforms in coffee, tea, dairy, sugar, maize and other value chains remain important. The real test will be whether increased production eventually translates into better and more reliable incomes for farmers.

Education is another area where significant changes have taken place. The administration has placed considerable emphasis on technical and vocational education and training, commonly known as TVET. This is important because Kenya has a large young population, who need practical skills that can directly connect them to employment and entrepreneurship. The expansion of TVET institutions and enrolment is therefore more than just an education statistic. It is an attempt to prepare young Kenyans for a changing labour market.

The government has also continued implementing reforms under the Competency-Based Education system. More teachers were recruited than any time before while giving affirmative action to understaffed Northern Kenya. It's the result of this effort that will make a true sense of education as the best equaliser.

The health sector has also undergone a major transformation. The replacement of NHIF with the Social Health Authority (SHA) represents one of the most significant changes in Kenya's health insurance system. The objective is to move towards universal healthcare in which Kenyans can access treatment without being pushed into financial hardship.

The transition has not been smooth. There have been complaints and operational challenges surrounding registration, claims and access to services. The real measure of success will ultimately be simple: Can an ordinary Kenyan walk into a hospital and receive treatment without worrying about lack of money?