Dr. Fred Matiang'i has dismissed President William Ruto's proposal for a national conversation. [File, Standard]
Dr. Fred Matiang'i has dismissed President William Ruto's proposal for a national conversation on Kenya's development beyond Vision 2030, arguing that the initiative is meant to divert attention from pressing governance and constitutional challenges facing the country.
Matiang'i described the proposed dialogue as "a misplaced priority," contending that the country should instead focus on addressing what he termed constitutional violations, insecurity, institutional decline and a growing trust deficit in government.
The remarks come as President Ruto seeks to initiate a national conversation aimed at shaping Kenya's development agenda as we are approaching the end of Vision 2030, the country's long term economic blueprint launched in 2008, and another road map towards 2060.
However, Matiang'i questioned the timing and intent of the proposed discussions, arguing that fundamental governance issues must be resolved before embarking on a fresh national agenda.
"President William Ruto's proposal to launch a national conversation on Kenya's development post-Vision 2030 is a clear case of misplaced priority," Matiang'i said. "This is only meant to divert our attention from Ruto's gross violations of the Constitution and leadership failures that are pressuring him to address."
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary accused the President of failing to uphold constitutional principles while simultaneously calling for national unity and dialogue.
According to Matiang'i, it is contradictory for the Head of State to urge Kenyans to embrace constitutional values and human rights while in his view, failing to address growing concerns over law and order.