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On 5 October 2023, during World Teachers’ Day, then TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia reported that Ruto’s administration had hired 56,000 teachers in its first year. In December 2024, she confirmed that the TSC had employed 76,000 teachers so far – 56,000 on permanent terms and 20,000 interns.

Claim: “We have hired 76,000 teachers.”

Verdict: Correct africacheck.info/ruto_sona

Comparing available numbers, tea earnings rose by about 31.8% between 2022 and 2024, not 56%. While tea earnings did increase, Ruto understated the 2022 baseline, making the growth appear larger than it really was. africacheck.info/ruto_sona

Claim: “Tea production has grown, with earnings rising from KSh138 billion in 2022 to KSh215 billion in 2024, a 56% increase.”

Verdict: Incorrect africacheck.info/ruto_sona

The national maize harvest was not 44 million bags in 2022 nor was it 67 million bags in 2024. africacheck.info/ruto_sona

Claim: “National maize harvests have risen from 44 million bags in 2022 to 67 million bags in 2024.”

Verdict: Incorrect africacheck.info/ruto_sona

In 1963, manufacturing made up just under 9% of Kenya’s economy, slightly below Malaysia’s and lower than Singapore and South Korea, where it accounted for about 12% of GDP. No data was available for Hong Kong due to post-colonial politics. africacheck.info/ruto_sona

In 1963, Kenya had the lowest life expectancy among the five economies. Malaysians lived almost nine years longer, South Koreans about four years longer, while Singapore and Hong Kong were far ahead, with life expectancy more than 15 years higher than in Kenya. africacheck.info/ruto_sona

The 1963 data shows that Kenya had the lowest GDP per capita of the 5 economies. Malaysia’s was nearly double Kenya’s, South Korea’s was about one-and-a-half times higher, and Singapore and Hong Kong were far ahead – more than 5 and 6 times Kenya’s level, respectively. africacheck.info/ruto_sona

In 1963, Kenya’s economy was just over half the size of Malaysia’s, slightly smaller than Singapore’s, about two-fifths the size of Hong Kong’s and only one-fifth the size of South Korea’s. africacheck.info/ruto_sona

In 1963, Kenya and Malaysia had similar population sizes. South Korea’s population was more than three times Kenya’s, while Singapore and Hong Kong each had less than half of Kenya’s population. africacheck.info/ruto_sona

Claim: “I have often spoken of the Asian Tigers, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia … countries that, at independence, were our peers in nearly every measurable way.”

Verdict: Incorrect africacheck.info/ruto_sona

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📊 According to a national study published in 2022, 22.4% of women in South Africa reported experiencing physical violence by a partner in their lifetime. This translates to an estimated 3,221,649 women.