Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticised President William Ruto's recent initiative to develop a successor blueprint to Vision 2030, accusing the President of equating constitutional values with economic development inappropriately.
In a statement following President Ruto's Special National Address, Sifuna emphasized that Kenya's development agenda must be firmly rooted in the principles enshrined in the Constitution. He stressed the importance of democratic values, human rights, equality, the rule of law, and social justice as foundational before pursuing economic growth.
President Ruto's Vision Beyond 2030
During the address, President Ruto announced the launch of a nationwide consultative process to craft a new long-term development blueprint to succeed Vision 2030, which expires soon. He invited all Kenyans to participate in shaping the country's future development path.
The President described the process as the most significant public participation exercise since the 2010 Constitution's promulgation, involving institutions, counties, political parties, private sector players, civil society, youth, and other stakeholders.
Ruto highlighted that the successor vision aims to position Kenya for sustained socio-economic growth and industrialization, envisioning a prosperous, globally competitive nation within one generation.
Expert Involvement and National Dialogue
President Ruto revealed that he had engaged experts including Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o and Japanese scholar Prof. Hiroyuki Hino to begin examining Kenya’s future beyond Vision 2030. Their proposals serve as a foundation for a broader national conversation.
He underscored that the next national vision should not be dictated by government or a select few experts but shaped through inclusive and transparent dialogue with all Kenyans.
Sifuna’s Response
Contrasting Ruto’s approach, Sifuna argued that the Constitution places governance principles ahead of development goals. He cautioned that economic development cannot be pursued in isolation from constitutional values, which form the basis for Kenya’s democratic society.
“You don’t get to the development clauses until and unless you have taken into account the reasons we passed this Constitution in the first place,” Sifuna said, emphasizing that constitutional values must guide Kenya’s long-term development strategy.
