President William Ruto has emphasized the need for Kenya to advance beyond maintaining a stable democracy and instead focus on becoming a wealthy and prosperous nation. Speaking at State House, Nairobi, during a gathering of over 5,000 Friends Church members, Ruto highlighted the economic strides made by countries like China and South Korea as benchmarks for Kenya’s growth.
He noted that Kenya, currently classified as a lower-middle-income country, has the potential to achieve upper-middle-income status through strategic planning and unity.
National Development Charter to Safeguard Progress
Ruto reiterated his call for the establishment of a National Development Charter that would be anchored in the Constitution. This move aims to protect vital development initiatives from political changes following elections, ensuring continuity regardless of which government is in power.
“We must come together to discuss, agree, and plan for our country’s future in a way that transcends electoral cycles,” the President stated, describing the charter as an inclusive framework designed to propel Kenya towards becoming a first-world economy.
Learning from Asia’s Economic Transformation
The President reflected on Kenya’s economic position in the 1960s, noting that it was on par with South Korea and ahead of China at that time. However, both Asian countries have since surpassed Kenya through sustained development efforts.
“Transitioning Kenya from a lower middle-income country to an upper middle-income one is within our reach,” Ruto affirmed, urging Kenyans to have confidence in the nation’s potential.
He called for adopting long-term planning and consistent policy implementation, drawing lessons from countries that have successfully transformed their economies.
These remarks come amid ongoing government initiatives focused on affordable housing, universal healthcare, and infrastructure development as part of Kenya’s broader development agenda.
