President William Ruto has declared that his administration is moving beyond the “small cake” politics of the past, unveiling a grand strategy to bake a “bigger cake” for all Kenyans through a broad-based government.
Speaking at Sagana State Lodge on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the President addressed a massive gathering of over 17,000 newly elected United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots leaders from Nyeri County.
The meeting, which follows a week of high-stakes party elections, signaled the beginning of a nationwide push to solidify the ruling party’s structures ahead of the 2027 General Election.
President Ruto emphasized that his recent move to form a broad-based government was a deliberate choice to end the cycle of winner-take-all politics.
He argued that national unity is the only way to solve the long-standing challenge of resource distribution, noting that one group does not have to lose for another to gain.
“For a long time, the bigger challenge in Kenya has been sharing the small cake we have. We now have a strategy to bake a bigger cake for everybody to share,” the President told the cheering polling centre officials.
He urged Kenyans to rise above retrogressive politics rooted in tribalism and division, insisting that national transformation requires humility and a “win-win” mindset.
As the UDA party leader, the President outlined a vision to turn the outfit into a permanent national institution that transcends individual leaders.
He revealed that UDA has already established a massive footprint, with 580,000 polling centre officials elected nationally and a turnout of 2.4 million members in the latest grassroots polls.
The President announced that he will personally lead county-by-county engagements to popularize the party’s agenda.
He tasked the new officials with managing the party’s affairs professionally at the village level, ensuring that the UDA remains a formidable instrument for continuity beyond 2027.
Addressing local concerns, President Ruto moved to assure Nyeri residents that no development project would stall under his watch.
He announced a KSh4 billion allocation for road construction in the county, specifically highlighting the progress of the Mau Mau roads.
According to the President, these critical links were only 20% complete when he took office in 2022 but have now reached nearly 70% completion.
The President further detailed a massive KSh21 billion investment for Nyeri, covering affordable housing, modern markets, and student hostels.
Another KSh1.4 billion has been earmarked to expand electricity connectivity across the county.
Beyond Nyeri, the President touted his administration’s track record in stabilizing the economy and reforming the agricultural and education sectors.
He shared an ambitious vision for regional dominance, including the modernization of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Uganda border, and the development of the Talanta Stadium.
Supporting the President’s message, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa noted that the Mt. Kenya region identifies with UDA because of its national character.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who also chairs the party, praised the inclusivity of the recent polls, highlighting that 36.5% of the elected officials were women.
