Homecoming: Ruto returns to Kapsabet High as school marks 100 years

President William Ruto returned to his former school, Kapsabet High School, on Thursday as the institution marked 100 years of continuous teaching and learning, describing the occasion as a homecoming.

The president said his time at the school more than four decades ago laid the foundation for the values that shaped his life.

He recalled that it was at Kapsabet High that he learnt the importance of discipline, hard work and the courage to dream beyond circumstance.

Quoting Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, the president said: “You cannot connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards, and trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

President Ruto said the government is keen on eliminating barriers to education that may prevent learners from accessing quality education so that every student has an opportunity to learn and pursue their ambitions.

He noted that the sector will receive KSh765 billion in the next financial year, the highest allocation in the national budget.

According to the president, the funding is intended to strengthen teaching and training in order to produce skilled human capital to drive the country’s transformation.

He said university capitation has increased from Ksh.45 billion to Ksh.82 billion, while funding for scholarships and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has risen from Ksh.17 billion to Ksh.41 billion, a move he said has helped restore stability in public universities.

During his visit to Nandi County, the president also attended a thanksgiving service at Kapsabet Girls High School following the school’s performance in the 2025 KCSE examinations and inspected a 1,000-bed capacity hostel under construction.

“We will sustain this progress and ensure that no student is left behind,” he said.

At St Joseph’s Chepterit Girls High School, where he commissioned a dormitory, the president announced that the government will construct a 2,500-capacity hall, 30 classrooms and an administration block, and provide 100 computers later this year.

“Our goal is to expand the school’s infrastructure and double the intake from the current 1,600 learners,” he said.

President Ruto added that the government has employed 100,000 teachers in the past three years as part of efforts to address the shortage in schools.

“We promised that we will employ 116,000 teachers. So far, we have employed 100,000 teachers in just three years,” he said.

Later, while addressing residents in Kapsabet town, the president said his administration was fulfilling the pledges it made to Kenyans.

He cited government programmes in education, agriculture, health, housing and sports infrastructure among key achievements.

On ICT, he said 330,000 young people are working and monetising their skills online through digital hubs established at TVET colleges.

“We now have 500,000 working in the Affordable Housing Programme. Another 540,000 Kenyans have so far found work abroad in the past three years,” he said.

He also highlighted the NYOTA programme, through which young entrepreneurs have received Ksh.50,000 in business support, training and mentorship.

The president challenged his critics to outline their development record and agenda for the country.

“Those who served for five, 10 or 40 years should be ready to tell Kenyans what they have done for them. Kenyans are now keen on service delivery and not rhetoric,” he said.

President Ruto urged his critics to respect the government and avoid insults if they expect to be respected.

He also called on members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to turn out in large numbers for the party’s grassroots elections on Saturday.

“We are prepared to facilitate more than five million members to elect 20 officials in every polling centre as we build a strong party that will work with other political formations in our continued objectives of uniting and transforming Kenya,” he said.

The president made the remarks while addressing residents at Chepterit and Namgoi shopping centres in Nandi County.