Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi flanked by ODM chairperson across Nairobi county addressing journalists at Treasury Buildings on August 11, 2026/DOUGLAS OKIDDYTreasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed claims that President William Ruto has developed a new vision for Kenya, saying the long-term development blueprint to be launched on Wednesday will be shaped through public participation and not imposed by the Head of State.
Mbadi said the national conversation on Kenya Vision 2060 would provide an opportunity for Kenyans, opposition leaders and other stakeholders to contribute ideas on the country’s long-term economic and development priorities.
Speaking to journalists at his office, Mbadi said the process would begin Wednesday, August 12, with public engagement across the country.
“I've had people saying Ruto has developed another vision. Ruto has not developed a vision,” Mbadi said.
“Tomorrow we are starting conversation on how to develop a vision for this country. I think that should come out very clearly,” he added.
The CS said the process is anchored in the Constitution and would allow Kenyans to determine the direction they want the country to take over the next several decades.
“Tomorrow is a beginning of public engagement in terms of public participation, as is required and enshrined in our Constitution, and this is what is going to inform what Kenyans will say is what should inform Vision 2060,” Mbadi said.
He invited critics of the government, including opposition leaders, to participate in the process and present alternative ideas rather than dismissing the initiative before it begins.
“Everyone should not start saying that we have developed a new vision. If you have better ideas, this is the time for you to come. In fact, the President has invited them, including the opposition. Come tomorrow, we start engagement,” he said.
Mbadi said the proposed blueprint was not intended to serve Ruto's political interests, noting that the President's constitutional tenure would end long before the 2060 horizon.
“The vision is not for Ruto; it is 2060. Ruto can only be in power up to 2032, not beyond,” he said.
“Therefore, this vision is not his. In fact, he will implement a very small part of that vision,” he added.
The Vision 2060 process succeeds Vision 2030 developed in 2008 and is intended to provide a longer-term roadmap for Kenya's economic transformation, with public participation expected to take place across all 47 counties.
Mbadi said a technical team had already developed a framework to guide the consultations, with experts including Professor Nyong’o and an international consultant, Professor Yino, contributing to the process.
“Now is the time to sit together, engage, dialogue, agree that where is Kenya going?” he said.
The CS said the long-term ambition would be to transform Kenya into a developed, high-income economy, pointing to Ruto's stated desire to emulate countries such as Singapore.
“President Ruto has already spoken that he would want Kenya to develop to the first world, to go to Singapore, if I may use this word, in the next 20 to 25 years,” Mbadi said.
He expressed confidence that the ambition was achievable, arguing that successive administrations had laid foundations that could be built upon.
“It is achievable. It is possible. We have already laid the foundation, the building blocks, which were started during President Kibaki's time. President Ruto has actually built very strongly on those building blocks,” he said.
The consultations will bring together citizens, political leaders, institutions and other stakeholders to deliberate on Kenya's economic future and help shape the priorities that will underpin Vision 2060.
