President William Ruto has announced the start of a nationwide process to craft Vision 2060, a new long-term development blueprint intended to guide Kenya’s growth after the expiry of Vision 2030.
Speaking during a Special National Address from State House, Nairobi, the President said the public engagement will begin on 12 August, bringing together citizens, experts and institutions to shape the country’s next chapter of economic and social development.
“Vision 2030 has brought us this far, but it is approaching its horizon. Many of its ambitions remain unattained,” Ruto said.
The President acknowledged that while Vision 2030 has delivered notable gains in infrastructure, technology and public services, Kenya is yet to realise its ambition of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. He said the country must now develop a fresh roadmap built on the lessons of the past two decades.
National Dialogue to Shape Kenya’s Future
Ruto said the Vision 2060 process will be driven by extensive public participation involving national and county governments, Parliament, the private sector, universities, professional bodies, faith organisations, civil society, young people and ordinary citizens.
According to the President, the consultations are intended to ensure the country’s next development agenda reflects the aspirations of all Kenyans rather than the priorities of a single administration.
He also disclosed that he had commissioned a team led by Professor Hiroyuki Hino and Kisumu Governor Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o to examine possible development pathways. Their findings, he said, will serve as the foundation for the national discussions beginning in August.
Economic Challenges Will Shape the Debate
The launch of Vision 2060 comes as Kenya faces mounting economic pressure, including a high public debt burden, rising living costs and persistent unemployment. Those challenges have intensified calls for policies that create jobs, strengthen public finances and deliver more inclusive economic growth.
Economists have long argued that Kenya’s development plans succeed when backed by consistent implementation, adequate funding and continuity across successive governments. They say the effectiveness of Vision 2060 will ultimately depend on whether its commitments are translated into measurable action over the coming decades.
The government says the consultation exercise will be among the largest public participation processes undertaken since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, with the aim of producing a long-term development strategy that extends beyond electoral cycles.
While supporters view the initiative as an opportunity to redefine Kenya’s economic future, critics are expected to scrutinise how the new blueprint addresses the unmet targets of Vision 2030 and whether it delivers tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
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