NAIROBI, Kenya- Government Spokesperson Charles Owino has defended President William Ruto’s push for a new long-term development blueprint, saying Kenya needs to have a national conversation as Vision 2030 approaches its conclusion.
Speaking during Debarl Inea’s X Space, Owino said Vision 2030 was introduced in 2008 with the goal of transforming Kenya into an industrialised and prosperous nation, but argued that the country did not fully achieve the expected outcomes.
“The main conversation is that in 2008 we came up with Vision 2030 and the government expected to improve the living standards of Kenyans. Unfortunately, that did not happen,” Owino said.
He said President Ruto’s plan is to move beyond Vision 2030 by focusing on programmes aimed at improving livelihoods, including affordable housing, Universal Health Coverage and agriculture reforms.
“Vision 2030 was meant to ensure that we push the country to industrialization and stabilize the economy by improving poverty levels. President William Ruto’s plan is to move beyond Vision 2030 and improve livelihood through housing, Universal Health Care, agriculture among others,” he said.
Owino said the President’s call for dialogue on August 12 is intended to allow Kenyans to participate in shaping the country’s next development direction.
“President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to have a dialogue on 12th August because the economy has not grown to our expectation of Vision 2030 which is coming to an end a few years to come,” he stated.
BETA Agenda and Vision 2030
The government spokesperson also defended the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying it remains central to President Ruto’s development strategy and incorporates some priorities that were contained in Vision 2030.
“President William Ruto has not abandoned the BETA agenda. In fact, from the five pillars he picked some of them from the social pillar of Vision 2030 and he is implementing it, which is the most important thing,” Owino said.
He dismissed criticism over the proposed timeline of a future national vision, saying the focus should be on the objectives rather than the number of years attached to the plan.
“There is nothing strange with the years. It can be Vision 2050 or 2070. Let’s not make the years peculiar. What is important is having another vision now that Vision 2030 is coming to an end,” he said.
Vision 2030 Background
Kenya’s Vision 2030 was launched in 2008 as the country’s long-term development framework aimed at transforming Kenya into a middle-income economy.
The blueprint is anchored on three pillars: economic, social and political governance. It identifies priority sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, health, education and governance reforms.
As the timeline for Vision 2030 nears its end, the government has indicated the need for a successor framework to guide Kenya’s development priorities in the coming decades.
