By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 14 January 2026 - Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki has reiterated the government’s ambitious vision that Kenya can transform into a first-world nation within a generation, asserting that such a goal is neither unrealistic nor unheard of when measured against comparable success stories worldwide.
Speaking on January 14, 2026, at the 14th Development Partners Forum in Karen, Nairobi, Kindiki said Kenya’s development aspirations are grounded in practical policy pillars and reinforced by examples of nations that have made rapid leaps from developing to developed status over a few decades.
“Our next vision is clear: to transform Kenya into a first-world economy within a generation. There is absolutely no reason why Kenya cannot do it,” Kindiki said, describing the objective as achievable through concerted effort in people-centred development, technology adoption, and strategic partnerships.
Kindiki highlighted the experiences of South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, countries that undertook decisive economic restructuring, strong human capital investment, and industrial growth to climb the development ladder in a generation or less.
He also noted that Kenya’s ambition isn’t modeled on a single case but a convergence of global lessons. Drawing from other statements he has made in recent months, Kindiki reminded critics that even large, populous countries like China transformed dramatically over roughly four decades, moving from low-income status to a major global economic force.
According to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, the government’s development strategy is anchored on people-centred growth, with a strong emphasis on education, skills development and job creation.
He said sustained investment in human capital is essential to unlocking productivity, reducing unemployment and ensuring that economic growth directly improves the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
A second pillar of the strategy is technology and innovation, which Kindiki described as the engine of modern economic transformation. The government has increased research and development funding to 2 per cent of GDP, a move aimed at accelerating digital adoption, strengthening industrial capacity and positioning Kenya as a competitive player in the global knowledge economy.
The third component focuses on strategic partnerships, drawing on both public and private capital to finance large-scale development. Kindiki noted that instruments such as the Sovereign Wealth Fund and expanded infrastructure financing initiatives are designed to mobilise long-term investment, support industrial growth and reduce reliance on short-term external borrowing as Kenya pursues its first-world ambitions.
The Deputy President also emphasised that mega and medium dams, expanded irrigation systems covering millions of acres, and modern transport infrastructure are not just boosters of economic growth but job creators and drivers of industrialisation.
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He underlined that national security, integrity, rule of law and unity are foundational to safeguarding progress and ensuring that economic gains endure.
Kindiki’s remarks dovetail with President William Ruto’s long-term development roadmap, which has also publicly outlined the ambition to move Kenya from a third-world to first-world economy within the next two to three decades.
Ruto’s strategy has included a KSh 5 trillion investment plan focused on infrastructure, value addition, and industrialisation, supported by new financing mechanisms such as the National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has echoed this sentiment, noting that Kenyans increasingly believe the first-world vision is attainable within the current generation, particularly as reforms related to domestic investment and capital mobilisation gain traction.
However, not all voices in the national discourse share the same confidence. Some critics argue that the ambitious timeline underestimates systemic challenges facing Kenya, such as educational and healthcare gaps, fiscal constraints, and institutional weaknesses that could stall progress.
Commentary on the pledge has ranged from cautious optimism to outright skepticism about the feasibility of achieving “first-world” status without structural reforms in governance and accountability.
Economists also point to the need for durability in policy implementation, including transparent governance, sound macroeconomic management, and equitable growth strategies, if Kenya is to sustain momentum toward its development goals.
Kindiki urged development partners present at the forum to align their programmes with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), underscoring that external support must reflect the priorities of Kenyans and complement national initiatives rather than operate in isolation.
As Kenya continues its policy push toward a first-world economy, the debate over how and how quickly that transformation can occur remains active across political, economic and civil society circles, reflecting the complexity and ambition of the country’s development path.
