Why Ruto Is Taking CSs, PSs, Advisors On 4-Day Retreat

President William Ruto will convene a four-day high-level meeting in Nyeri County that will feature all cabinet secretaries (CSs), Principal Secretaries (PSs) and presidential advisors.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed on Monday, January 2 confirmed plans by the Head of State to host the meeting between January 5-8, 2023.

He noted that the meeting will touch on plans by the Kenya Kwanza government on how it will undertake its mandate in the New Year.

"President William Ruto to host a retreat featuring senior ranks of the Executive including Cabinet, Presidential Advisors & Principal Secretary. The retreat between 5th-8th January will crystallize the implementation programme of the Administration’s Plan for the Year 2023.

President Ruto is expected to chair the meeting whose agenda is to adopt the administration's economic transformation plan based on priority areas such as food security and job creation.

It will also centre on key events of the year and accelerate the completion of key projects. Presidential Communication Service Press Secretary Emmanuel Talam further noted that the meeting will also bring members of the Executive up to speed with the government's vision for 2023.

Sources told the media that the CSs will be required to explain the steps they will take in delivering within their respective ministries that were set up to address critical areas President Ruto promised to cover during his campaigns ahead of the August 9, 2022, general elections.

Those who will attend the meeting are expected to be seated by 7 am and the sessions will run until 5 pm.

The President in his New Year's message said the government is committed to getting the country back on the path of economic recovery, adding that it will not shy away from making tough decisions aimed at enabling sustainable economic growth.

"I have had to take bold measures to ensure the country is recovering. The removal of subsidies was necessary to get our country back on the economic recovery," Ruto said.

He added that he will utilise the lessons from the late former President Mwai Kibaki's school of thought that a country cannot prosper through excess borrowing, in its bid to achieve economic growth through self-reliance.

On January 1, he dismissed reports that the cost of electricity and cost of living would increase in 2023.

"I would like to allay fears being spread that there will be an increase in the cost of electricity. I want to ensure the country that we removed subsidies in August.

"There will be no additional charges today or going into the future on electricity bills," the President declared.

He also denounced reports that the cost of living would jump in the new year as well as the rate of unemployment in the country.