John Mbadi says Ruto steered Kenya's economy through tough times as KNBS data shows 4.6 per cent growth and sustained gains in key sectors. PRESIDENT William Ruto has steered the country through turbulent times compared to his predecessors, Treasury CS John Mbadi now says, dismissing critics of the slowdown in growth last year.
The Economic Survey 2026 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), released last week, indicates the country’s economic growth was recorded at 4.6 per cent. This was a slight drop from 4.7 per cent in 2024, as key sectors of the economy grew, but at a slower pace compared to the previous year.
Mbadi has also dismissed claims of inconsistencies between official government data and figures cited by President William Ruto. In a detailed explanation of recent statistics, Mbadi said apparent discrepancies stem largely from differences in measurement standards and selective interpretation of data, rather than any contradiction within government.
On maize production, one of the key areas cited in the debate, Mbadi said confusion arose from the use of different bag sizes as units of measurement. While some government communications referenced 50-kilogramme bags, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reports production using 90-kilogramme bags to ensure consistency.
Standardised to the 90kg unit, Mbadi said maize output has shown a clear upward trend. He said production rose from 34.2 million bags in 2022 to 47 million in 2023, before easing slightly to 44.8 million in 2024 and improving to 45.8 million in 2025. He attributed the gains to government interventions, noting that production remained resilient even in the face of drought due to favourable conditions in key growing regions during the main planting season.
“The government has increased maize production significantly. These are facts captured in official data,” Mbadi said. He acknowledged that not all agricultural sub-sectors performed equally, with sugarcane and tea production affected by adverse weather and structural disruptions, including the leasing of state-owned sugar factories.