Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticised President William Ruto’s Vision 2060 plan, arguing that the country’s long-term future should be shaped by younger generations rather than the current political leadership.
Speaking during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Mumias, Kakamega County, on Sunday, Sifuna said President Ruto’s time in office was nearing its end and challenged the government to allow younger leaders to take responsibility for Kenya’s future after the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna directed his criticism at Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who has been associated with the development of the long-term plan, saying the governor could have waited before presenting it to the President.
“Nyong’o, you could have waited for 12 months, then delivered the 2060 plan. You cannot sit down a hen and chicks to document how they want to live until 2060, then submit the plan to an eagle,” he argued.
Sifuna questioned the rationale behind older leaders making plans extending several decades into the future while young people are repeatedly described as the leaders of tomorrow.
According to the senator, the political generation currently in power should not determine the country’s direction for a period when younger Kenyans are expected to assume leadership.
His remarks come amid growing political debate over President Ruto’s Vision 2060 plan and the government’s broader long-term development agenda.
Opposition leaders have criticised the initiative, arguing that the government should prioritise immediate economic and security challenges facing Kenyans rather than focus on a development plan extending to 2060.
Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has questioned the relevance of a decades-long development plan at a time when Kenyans are dealing with economic difficulties and security concerns.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has also described the initiative as a political distraction, arguing that it could divert public attention from the country’s immediate challenges.
The government, however, has defended the long-term approach.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged Kenyans to look beyond the 2027 election and support President Ruto’s Vision 2060 agenda, warning against allowing short-term political contests to determine the country’s long-term development priorities.
President Ruto has also defended plans for a National Dialogue on a roadmap towards achieving what he describes as a first-world economy, accusing the United Opposition of resisting the initiative for political reasons.
The dispute over Vision 2060 adds to the growing political contest ahead of the 2027 General Election, with rival political formations increasingly presenting competing visions for Kenya’s future.
Sifuna’s remarks in Mumias further positioned Linda Mwananchi as a platform seeking to give younger leaders a greater role in shaping the country’s political and development agenda.
The debate is expected to intensify as political parties and movements begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections and discussions over Kenya’s long-term development priorities continue.