By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, August 2, 2026 - Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki on Sunday challenged Kenyans to look beyond the 2027 General Election and rally behind President William Ruto's proposed Vision 2060 development blueprint, saying the country's future should not be sacrificed on the altar of short-term politics.
Speaking during a Sunday fellowship with residents of Irunduni in Tharaka Nithi County, Kindiki said the national conversation on Vision 2060 was one of the most consequential undertakings in Kenya's history, arguing that it would shape the country's economic and social trajectory for generations.
The Deputy President cautioned politicians against reducing every national agenda to the 2027 presidential contest, saying elections come and go but long-term development plans endure.
"Next year's elections will come and go. There will be a winner and there will be someone who does not win. Both are Kenyans," Kindiki said.
He urged leaders to support the government's long-term planning agenda, saying Vision 2060 was designed to propel Kenya into the league of developed economies such as Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and China.
Kindiki defended the Kenya Kwanza administration's record, saying it had demonstrated its capacity to deliver through infrastructure investments and revival of stalled projects across the country.
He said the government had revived more than 6,000 kilometres of stalled roads after settling Sh177 billion in pending bills owed to contractors.
In Tharaka Nithi County, he cited the completion of 15 kilometres of the Mioponi-Mukothima-Gachiongo-Gatunga road as evidence of the administration's commitment to development.
He also said the government was constructing 600 modern markets nationwide, with completed facilities already operational in Chuka, Chogoria and Gatunga.
Using the development record as his political defence, Kindiki dismissed calls by critics seeking to deny President Ruto a second term, saying the administration deserved more time to complete its development agenda.
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Without naming his rivals, the Deputy President accused some opposition figures—many of whom previously held senior positions in government—of failing to deliver meaningful development despite serving for decades.
"Give us time," Kindiki said, insisting the Kenya Kwanza administration should be judged by its performance rather than political rhetoric.
He also rejected attempts to fuel ethnic divisions ahead of the elections, saying government development programmes were being implemented equitably across all regions regardless of political affiliation.
Kindiki reassured supporters that the administration remained focused despite heightened political activity, urging them not to be distracted by early campaign politics.
"Vision 2060 is not about next year's elections. It is about the future of Kenya, the future of our children and the future of our grandchildren," he said.
His remarks come as political rivalry intensifies ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the Kenya Kwanza administration seeking to shift public attention from succession politics to its long-term economic transformation agenda, while the opposition continues to mount an aggressive campaign centred on President Ruto's record in office.