Wednesday, April 22, 2026 •
3 min read
President William Ruto addresses the Luiss School of Government in Rome, Italy, where he discussed Kenya’s infrastructure and digitisation goals
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Citizen Digital
President William Ruto tells an international audience that Kenya is moving away from mediocre leadership to embrace a future defined by digitisation and massive infrastructure development.
President William Ruto has stated that Kenya is on a firm path toward first-world status, anchored by a dual focus on infrastructure development and the digitisation of state services.
Speaking at the Luiss School of Government in Rome, Italy, the President addressed an audience on the theme of “Kenya: A Country Looking Towards The Future”. He noted that the era of limited ambition in Kenyan leadership has concluded.
The President told the gathering that his administration is currently redesigning government systems. This overhaul aims to make public services more accessible, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the citizenry.
“For too long, especially in leadership, we have tolerated the average and constrained our ambition. That era has come to an end,” President Ruto said during his public lecture.
The push for digitisation is viewed as a central pillar in reducing bureaucracy. By moving services online, the government intends to eliminate the inefficiencies that often plague manual processes in the public sector.
Beyond technology, the President highlighted the place of the African continent in the emerging global order. He positioned Kenya as a gateway for investment, citing the country’s strategic focus on large-scale infrastructure projects.
These projects are expected to provide the physical foundation for economic expansion. The President emphasized that infrastructure remains a critical component in the country’s journey toward a high-income economy.
The lecture in Rome served as a platform to market Kenya’s investment possibilities to European stakeholders. President Ruto argued that a modernised, digital-first government would attract higher levels of foreign direct investment.
He suggested that by embracing next-generation technology, Kenya could leapfrog traditional development hurdles. The focus remains on creating a system that is not only efficient but also highly accountable.
Observers noted that the President’s remarks underscore a shift in national policy toward more aggressive growth targets. The administration appears keen on shedding the “developing nation” tag through rapid industrialization and tech adoption.
The lecture also touched on the broader African context, with President Ruto advocating for a more prominent role for the continent in global decision-making. He linked domestic success to regional stability and economic integration.
By streamlining government functions, the state hopes to lower the cost of doing business. This, in turn, is expected to spur local entrepreneurship and create much-needed jobs for the youth.
The President’s address coincides with ongoing efforts to integrate digital IDs and automated payment platforms across various government departments. These initiatives are part of a broader master plan to automate the Kenyan economy.
President Ruto remains optimistic that these changes will yield visible results in the short-term. He maintained that the transition to a first-world economy is no longer a distant dream but a tangible objective.
As the government continues its infrastructure push, the focus will likely remain on ensuring these projects deliver value for money. Transparency in procurement and execution was highlighted as a key priority for the current administration.