Ichung’wah: Kenya firmly on path to First World status despite tough 2025 politics

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has said Kenya is steadily progressing toward becoming a First World country.

Speaking during an interview with KTN, Ichung’wah noted that despite political challenges in 2025, the broad-based government has helped stabilise Parliament and advance the government’s development agenda.

“We are firmly on the path to becoming a First World country. We have supported President Ruto unconditionally,” he said.

Ichung’wah highlighted ongoing development projects across the country as indicators of transformation, including improvements in schools, markets, trading centres, roads, and other key infrastructure.

He also cited affordable housing as a flagship programme under President Ruto’s administration, with several projects already underway and more planned.

“These initiatives reflect the transformation we are implementing across our schools, markets, trading centres, roads, and infrastructure, including affordable housing projects,” Ichung’wah said, noting that the focus is on tangible development rather than political rhetoric.

Reflecting on Parliament’s performance in 2025, Ichung’wah acknowledged both highs and lows, noting that the President had at times publicly addressed the House regarding its conduct and legislative priorities.

“Parliament has had its lows and its highs, and at some point even the President addressed the National Assembly on these matters,” he said.

He said the formation of the broad-based government, an arrangement spearheaded by President Ruto and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has helped ease the legislative process by bringing political rivals together.

“With the broad-based government in place, thanks to the President and Raila, the contestation of ideas has helped advance government policy and legislation more effectively,” Ichung’wah said.

He acknowledged that divergent views remain both within and outside government, describing them as a natural feature of a democratic system. While welcoming constructive criticism, he said some opposition voices tend to politicise issues.

“There are those who objectively examine issues and raise concerns that improve what we are doing, and others who, unfortunately, speak solely for political purposes,” he said.

Overall, Ichung’wah described the political climate in the National Assembly in 2025 as largely favourable for national progress.

“By and large, I would say the winds in the National Assembly in 2025 have been good for the country,” he said, expressing optimism that legislative stability will accelerate Kenya’s development agenda in the coming years.