Ruto urges leaders to put future generations ahead of elections
According to Ruto, Kenya has repeatedly approached national planning with the next election in mind instead of considering the needs of the next generation.
President William Ruto. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
President William Ruto has called on Kenya’s political leaders to shift their attention from winning the next election to making decisions that will benefit future generations, arguing that short-term political interests have slowed the country’s development.
Speaking during the launch of nationwide public consultations on the proposed Vision 2060 development framework in Nairobi, Ruto said many of Kenya’s long-term plans had fallen short because leaders were often more concerned about the political impact of their decisions than the country’s future.
The President said politicians frequently face pressure to avoid policies that may be unpopular with voters, even when those decisions are necessary for the country’s long-term prosperity.
According to Ruto, Kenya has repeatedly approached national planning with the next election in mind instead of considering the needs of the next generation. He said this mindset had made it difficult for leaders to implement reforms that require patience and sustained commitment over many years.
Ruto urged Kenyans to view elections as part of democracy rather than events that should determine every national decision. He said the country was bigger than any political contest and warned against treating elections as matters of life and death.
The President said his experience in office had shown him how difficult it can be for leaders to balance immediate political considerations with the national interest. He said leaders are often advised to postpone important decisions because they could affect their chances in future elections, even when those decisions would benefit the country in the long run.
The remarks came as the government opened discussions on Vision 2060, a proposed long-term development plan intended to guide Kenya after Vision 2030 reaches the end of its current planning cycle.
The new framework is expected to draw views from citizens across the country on issues including economic growth, infrastructure, education, healthcare, technology, governance and climate resilience.
Ruto said the consultations should help Kenya agree on the kind of country it wants to build over the coming decades. He called for broad public participation, saying long-term development plans are more likely to succeed when they reflect the aspirations of citizens rather than the priorities of a single administration.
The President maintained that governments may change after elections, but the country’s development goals should remain consistent. He said Kenya needed to build institutions and policies that could endure beyond individual political terms and provide a clear direction for future generations.
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