President William Ruto. [PCS]
President William Ruto has called for a national dialogue to develop a long-term development blueprint anchored in the Constitution, saying Kenya's future should be guided by law rather than political guesswork.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, when he hosted members of the Friends Church (Quakers), the President said the country should emulate the consultative process that produced the 2010 Constitution to craft a legally protected national development agenda that outlives political administrations.
"We came together and came up with the new Constitution. It is time we come together for a similar meeting to plan for the country's development agenda. The country cannot move with guesswork. We have to anchor it in law on how we will progress as a country," Ruto said.
The President argued that while Vision 2030 has guided Kenya's development over the years, it was formulated before the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution and did not undergo comprehensive public participation.
He said the Constitution, particularly its provisions on socio-economic rights, provides a framework for a development agenda that prioritizes healthcare, education, food security and economic growth.
"The Constitution speaks about health, education, food production and economic development. We must have a plan for economic development that is anchored in law and guaranteed by the Constitution," he said.
Ruto assured Kenyans that every region would benefit equally from development, saying his administration would not discriminate against any part of the country.