NAIROBI – President Dr. William Ruto has stated that Kenya needs a national dialogue to discuss the country’s development direction over the long term, particularly after the Vision 2030 timeline, while reflecting on the progress made since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution.
Addressing the nation from State House, Nairobi on Thursday, President Ruto noted that this is neither a government initiative nor a political agenda, but a collective responsibility for all Kenyans. He stated that the fundamental question is how citizens want the nation to look in the future for coming generations.
The Head of State emphasized that nations that were once at a similar development level with Kenya years ago citing examples such as South Korea, China, and Singapore have since made significant economic strides because they made decisive choices and established long-term development plans for their citizens.
President Ruto said that Kenyans must be courageous and reflect on why they have not yet fully utilized available opportunities to transform the country, as well as determine what needs to be done differently to succeed.
He added that the current Constitution has empowered Kenyans with the framework and tools to improve the nation across various sectors, including healthcare, education, livelihoods, and food security, making it essential to focus on these areas to move the country forward.
President Ruto announced that on August 12, the government will officially launch a national dialogue that will bring together Kenyans from all walks of life including youth, professionals, scholars, business leaders, religious leaders, workers, and civil society organizations to begin the journey of formulating a new vision for Kenya.
During his address, President Ruto acknowledged that while Kenya has made developmental progress under Vision 2030, it has not achieved all of its targets, highlighting the need for further strategic planning for the country.
The President addressed the nation at a time when political leaders, particularly from the opposition, continue to tour various parts of the country in early campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Election. Opposition leaders contend that Kenyans are facing economic hardships, despite the President’s assertion that the national economy is growing.
Among these leaders is Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who has held meetings with opposition allies to strategize on forming a united front to defeat President Ruto in the 2027 polls. Kalonzo emphasized that he will continue collaborating with other parties aligned with changing the current leadership through the ballot.
At the same time, Kalonzo dismissed claims that he has been holding secret talks with President Ruto to join the government, terming the reports false and intended to weaken opposition unity. He declared that these efforts would fail and maintained that no opposition leader will join President Ruto’s administration as they prepare for the next election.
