As we navigate through 2026, the “Hustler” narrative that swept the nation in 2022 has matured into a complex reality of taxes and “waiting.” While the administration has made strides in certain sectors, some promises were so outlandish they became the stuff of memes and political banter.
For the readers of NAIROBIminiBLOGGERS, looking back at these pledges feels like reading a collection of tall tales.
Whether it was the pressure of the campaign trail or just pure optimism, here are the 10 most “ambitious” promises from President William Ruto that effectively never saw the light of day.
1. The Sh300 Gas Cylinder.
Remember when we were told that by June 2023, every Kenyan home would be cooking with gas at the price of a plate of fries? The promise was that a 6 kg cylinder would retail between Sh300 and Sh500.
Fast forward to April 2026, and while there have been minor fluctuations, most Kenyans are still staring at receipts well over Sh1,000, wondering where the “government-subsidized” gas disappeared to.
2. The $40 (Sh 5,000) Smartphone.
At a tech summit in late 2022, the president famously declared that Kenya would manufacture the cheapest smartphones in Africa within 12 months.
The vision was a Sh5,000 device for every “hustler.” Instead, we got the “Neon” series and others that, while local, were often locked to specific telcos or priced significantly higher than the promised Sh5k mark.
The dream of a dirt-cheap, locally made “iPhone killer” remains just that—a dream.
3. “Sell Your Dollars Now.”
In early 2023, the president gave a stern warning to those “hoarding” dollars, claiming the shilling would soon strengthen to 110 or 115 and they would lose money. Many who listened to that “financial advice” watched in horror as the dollar surged toward 160 before stabilizing much later. The G-to-G oil deal, meant to be the magic bullet for the currency, ended up as a point of contention rather than a solution for the exchange rate.
4. Unga at Sh70 within 100 Days.
This was perhaps the most iconic campaign chant. The promise was simple: lower the price of maize flour to Sh70 within the first 100 days in office.
We are now nearly four years in, and while prices have dipped from their Sh230 peaks, they never touched the Sh70 floor. The “100 days” deadline came and went, replaced by explanations about global supply chains and the “cartels” in the agriculture sector.
5. 100% University Scholarships.
The initial pledge was that no student would pay a cent for university education under the new administration.
What we got instead was a “student-centered funding model” that categorized students into “vulnerable,” “extremely needy,” and “needy.”
By 2026, many students are still struggling with fee balances, and the “100% free” promise has been diluted into a complicated web of loans and partial grants.
6. Arizona University “Degrees” for Nyayo Stadium.
During the 2022 Jamhuri Day celebrations, attendees were promised a free online course from Arizona State University.
While some did get access to basic entrepreneurship certificates, the promise was framed as if a prestigious degree was being handed out with every plastic chair at Nyayo.
The reality was a short, self-paced course that many found lacked the weight of the “global education” they were promised.
7. Interest-Free Hustler Fund.
The original “Hustler Fund” pitch was an interest-free credit line for the small-scale trader. When it launched, it came with a 5% to 8% interest rate.
While lower than commercial banks, the “interest-free” part of the promise was quietly shelved. Today, with high default rates and dwindling borrowing limits for many, the “fund that was meant to change everything” is just another micro-loan app on a long list.
8. Fertilizer at Sh2,500 (sans the sand).
The government did lower fertilizer prices, which was a win on paper. However, the “ridiculous” part came during the 2024/2025 period when the “fake fertilizer” scandal broke out.
Farmers who bought the subsidized Sh2,500 bags found them filled with stones and sand. The promise of “cheap input” turned into an expensive nightmare for the very “hustler” farmers it was meant to protect.
9. Cabinet Meetings in All 47 Counties.
Early in his term, Ruto promised to take the government to the people by holding Cabinet meetings in every single county.
After a few well-publicized trips to the coast and central regions, the logistics and cost of moving the entire executive branch proved too much.
The “County Cabinet” tours quietly faded away, and most decisions returned to the familiar halls of State House, Nairobi.
10. First World Status by 2040.
This is the latest addition to the “ridiculous” list. As of early 2026, the administration has begun pitching the idea that Kenya will be a “first-world economy” by 2040.
Given the current struggles with debt, fuel prices hitting Sh206, and a biting cost of living, analysts have termed this vision more of a “mirage” than a roadmap.
It joins the long list of grand promises that sound great on a podium but feel light-years away from the pocket of the common mwananchi.
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