Ruto allies in Ukambani back Vision 2060, urge opposition to think beyond 2027 elections

Allies of President William Ruto from Ukambani are urging the opposition to look beyond the next General Election and focus on Kenya’s long-term development and the wellbeing of future generations.

The leaders were speaking during a public engagement in Athi River, Mavoko Constituency, amid growing debate over President Ruto’s proposal for a long-term development blueprint beyond Vision 2030.

UDA National Organising Secretary and Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka Kawaya said Kenya cannot continue planning its future within five-year electoral cycles.

Kawaya argued that development should transcend presidential term limits, saying successive administrations should be able to inherit, implement and improve a long-term national development agenda.

He said the proposed Vision 2060 should provide an opportunity for Kenyans to discuss the kind of country they want to build for future generations.

“Kuna viongozi wanasema tusiongelee beyond 2030, sasa Kenya itakwisha 2030? Na kama hatutaongelea beyond 2030, Kenya itakuwa inafanya nii na tax yenu beyond hiyo 2030? Ndio maana nasema viongozi ambao hamna vision, tafadhali wachaneni na wale ambao wako na vision tuzungumze pamoja na Wakenya,” said the legislator.

“The President has shown a lot of courage to steer this discussion so that Kenyans can discuss their future, ndio tuweze kujua beyond 2030 kwa sababu it’s here with us. There are leaders who are only concerned about the next election, which is next year, but there are leaders like William Ruto and some of us who are more concerned about the next generation, and our politics must go beyond the five-year term that is given to a President.”

Machakos County Assembly Minority Leader Francis Kavyu echoed the sentiments, challenging the opposition to focus on offering solutions to the challenges facing Kenyans rather than concentrating solely on the next electoral contest.

Kavyu further urged young people to resist political exploitation, saying they should demand policies that create opportunities, jobs and sustainable development instead of being used as instruments in political battles.

The leaders maintained that Kenya needs a long-term national vision that can survive changes in political leadership, arguing that elections will come and go, but the decisions made today will shape the country for generations to come.