President William Ruto has emphasised the importance of Kenya’s Constitution in shaping the country’s proposed Vision 2060, saying public participation must remain at the centre of the long-term development planning process.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi during the launch of the national conversation on Kenya’s development beyond Vision 2030, Ruto said the new Constitution provides a clearer framework for involving citizens in determining the country’s future.
The event brought together more than 5,000 delegates representing all 47 counties as Kenya began consultations on the proposed Vision 2060 development framework.
“When Vision 2030 was developed, it was developed before the new constitution. The new constitution provides us with a better and clearer framework on how to think long-term and therefore it is important that we engage in this exercise in the context of a new constitution,” Ruto said.
The President noted that the Constitution makes public participation a mandatory component of national decision-making, saying the approach would help ensure the new long-term plan is owned by Kenyans rather than being viewed as a government project.
Ruto attributed some of the limited public understanding of Vision 2030 to inadequate citizen involvement during its formulation.
“The reason why you find in some cases many people do not understand, do not relate to Vision 2030 was because there was no public participation to the extent that we know public participation has provided for in the constitution at the moment,” he said.
He said the current process presents an opportunity to develop a long-term plan that reflects the priorities and aspirations of citizens across the country.
“This time around different from the opportunity that was in 2008 to formulate a long-term plan, one that is done by the people, not by government, not by bureaucrats, by the people themselves,” Ruto added.
The President pledged government support for the nationwide consultations, saying resources would be provided to ensure the process remains citizen-driven.
“From a government standpoint, we are available to make all resources available for this process to be truly people-centred, citizen-driven, future-looking. We are ready for that,” he said.
Ruto urged students, religious organisations, businesses, political parties and civil society groups to actively participate in the national conversation and contribute their views on Kenya’s long-term development priorities.
The consultations are expected to inform the formulation of a new development framework that will guide Kenya beyond the current Vision 2030 blueprint.
