President William Ruto's development programmes should be judged by the impact they have on ordinary Kenyans rather than political rivalry, ODM Party leader Oburu Oginga has said, defending the broad-based government while urging the opposition to move beyond criticism and present practical alternatives. He also hailed the government's decision to formally recognise village elders, saying it will strengthen grassroots leadership and bring power closer to communities.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday during an engagement with village elders, Oburu said leaders should support policies that improve the lives of citizens regardless of which political side introduces them.
"If it is something which translates into benefits for our people, we must appreciate it. We want to say that the president is trying his best, and the opposition should also try. They should also try to bring their own programs. What they want to do to the people," he said.
Oburu reaffirmed ODM's commitment to the broad-based arrangement with the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying the party would continue working with President Ruto while maintaining its identity.
"We are in this broad-based government. We are working with President Ruto in this broad-based government. My late brother Raila Odinga left us there, and may God rest his soul in peace, and we are not going to be swallowed by him, but we are going to work together to make a strong government," he said.
He also defended Kenya's Vision 2030 development agenda, dismissing claims that it had failed and saying the country should continue building on existing national plans instead of abandoning them.
"There are people who are against even vision. If you are visionless, you cannot go ahead. We have Vision 2030, which has been implemented. If it has not been implemented, just tell us what percentage you think it has reached. Don't say it has not been implemented at all, because it is not Ruto who started it," he said.
According to Oburu, development should be viewed as a continuous process that extends across different administrations, with each government advancing programmes started by its predecessors instead of discarding them.
He also welcomed the government's move to formally recognise village elders, describing it as an important reform that gives communities a stronger voice in governance.
"The way forward is to give power to the people... President Ruto is giving power to the powerless. The village elders were just regarded as village elders," he said.
Oburu's remarks came as debate continues over the government's proposed long-term national development blueprint that is expected to succeed Vision 2030.
President Ruto has described the proposed plan as a people-driven roadmap that will guide Kenya's development beyond 2030. However, opposition leaders have questioned the timing of the initiative, arguing that the government should first complete the implementation of Vision 2030 before introducing another long-term strategy.
They have also accused the administration of using the proposed blueprint to shift attention from the country's economic and governance challenges.