Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen/MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended President William Ruto’s newly unveiled development vision beyond 2030, saying it places long-term national transformation at the centre of the government’s agenda.
Murkomen said the proposed national development charter would provide a foundation for a more prosperous and dignified future for Kenyans as the country prepares for the next phase of development after Vision 2030.
“The President is placing development at the centre of his agenda and securing a dignified future for Kenyans. That is why he unveiled the Beyond Vision 2030 agenda yesterday,” Murkomen said.
He dismissed criticism from opposition leaders who have questioned the timing and intentions of the proposed framework, arguing that national development should remain anchored in the Constitution rather than political interests.
Murkomen said Kenyans deserved both political freedoms and tangible economic progress, insisting that constitutional rights could not be separated from the country's development needs.
“The right to life cannot be separated from the right to development,” he said.
The CS spoke during a thanksgiving ceremony at St Stephen’s Secondary School in Kagaari, Embu County, where he also defended the Kenya Kwanza administration’s record in implementing development projects across the country.
Murkomen said the government’s performance should be assessed based on what it had delivered to Kenyans, rather than political rhetoric.
“We know whether a student is performing well by looking at their report card, and the Kenya Kwanza report card reflects sterling performance,” he said.
He cited the administration's focus on infrastructure, education, energy, healthcare and other sectors as evidence of its development record, particularly in the Mt Kenya region.
Murkomen also expressed confidence that President Ruto would secure a second term in office in the 2027 General Election, despite growing political activity by opposition parties and leaders seeking to consolidate support ahead of the polls.
He said the government's development record would form a key part of its case for re-election. The CS also dismissed claims concerning an alleged leakage of details surrounding the President's special national address on the new development vision.
He maintained that information about the address had been publicly available ahead of time and therefore rejected suggestions that sensitive details had been improperly released.
Kenya’s New National Development Vision: Beyond Vision 2030 seeks to establish a long-term national framework for translating the aspirations of the 2010 Constitution into measurable development outcomes.
The strategy is expected to focus on defining the kind of Kenya the country seeks to build over the next generation while providing a framework that can endure beyond individual administrations and electoral cycles.
Ruto announced that the national conversation on Kenya’s future beyond Vision 2030 will formally begin on August 12, 2026, with participation expected from government institutions, counties, political parties, the private sector, professional groups, civil society, faith organisations and young people.
Murkomen said the vision demonstrates the government’s intention to place long-term development above short-term political considerations and ensure that Kenya’s constitutional promises translate into better lives for citizens.
He was accompanied by Principal Secretaries Dr Esther Muoria, Alex Wachira, Betsy Njagi and Eng Joseph Mbugua; Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi; Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba; Mbeere South MP Eng Nebart Muriuki; County MP Pamela Njoki and other leaders.
