Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called for policy continuity and long-term planning, warning that disruption of government programmes after changes in administration remains one of the biggest threats to Kenya’s development.
Speaking during the launch of the National Beyond 2030 Conversation on Wednesday, Kindiki said Kenya must build on the foundation already laid instead of abandoning programmes whenever there is a change of government.
“The biggest threat of African countries, the biggest threat of developing countries, is policy disruption,” Kindiki said.
He argued that development should not be politicised, urging political leaders to maintain programmes that serve the national interest.
“We can politicise everything else. Let us not politicise the development of our country,” he said.
Kindiki said Kenya needed confidence in its ability to transform into a wealthy and developed nation, arguing that African countries could achieve the same progress witnessed elsewhere.
“It is possible,” he said.
The Deputy President cited infrastructure, energy and employment initiatives as some of the areas where the government has sought to establish a foundation for long-term development.
On infrastructure, Kindiki said the government had paid Sh177 billion in pending bills owed to road contractors, allowing stalled projects to resume.
He said about 6,000 kilometres of stalled roads across the 47 counties were now under construction, while projects were also being implemented in areas that had previously been left out of major infrastructure development.
Kindiki cited the road connecting Isiolo, Mandera and Kulamawe and the planned connection of Lamu Port through Ijara, Garissa and Isiolo as examples of projects intended to expand connectivity.
He also said work was ongoing to extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Nairobi to Kisumu, Busia and Malaba.
In the aviation sector, he said the government was building a new airport terminal through an innovative financing arrangement valued at Sh155 billion, while a Sh60 billion modernisation programme was underway at the Port of Mombasa.
On electricity, Kindiki said national connectivity had increased to 10.3 million households, up from 8.9 million, with the government targeting universal electricity connection for 15.6 million households within four years.
He said the National Infrastructure Fund would help expand investment in agriculture, energy, irrigation and infrastructure. Kindiki also highlighted employment initiatives, saying 650,000 Kenyans were already working through casual labour opportunities linked to the affordable housing programme, with the target being to surpass one million.
He said about 300,000 Kenyans were earning through digital jobs under the Ajira programme, supported by expanded fibre-optic connectivity.
The government has built more than 30,000 kilometres of terrestrial fibre-optic cable, while 382 ICT hubs have been completed and another 416 are under construction.
Kindiki said the overseas employment programme had also facilitated jobs for 538,000 Kenyans, contributing to increased diaspora remittances.
He further pointed to sports infrastructure, saying the government was building 32 stadiums across the counties while upgrading Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums to international standards.
“We have done some work. A lot of work needs to be done. Laid the foundation,” Kindiki said.
He said the National Beyond 2030 Conversation should now focus on determining “what levels we have to take our country to the next level.”
Kindiki urged leaders to protect long-term development programmes from political disruption, saying successive administrations should improve existing foundations in the national interest.