ODM party leader Oburu Odinga left the congregation at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in laughter after making a light-hearted remark about President William Ruto’s Vision 2060 plan.
Oburu had been invited to address the congregation during the Beyond 2030 Summit, where President Ruto was defending the need for Kenya to think beyond the 2030 development blueprint.
While expressing his support for the long-term vision, Oburu joked that he would not be around to witness its implementation, prompting laughter from those present.
The ODM leader suggested that although he supported the idea of planning for Kenya’s future, he would likely be gone by the time Vision 2060 reaches its intended horizon.
His remarks came as Ruto pushed back against critics of the Vision 2060 plan, arguing that Kenyan leaders should stop focusing only on the next election and instead think about the next generation.
The President said Vision 2060 was intended to provide a long-term roadmap for Kenya’s development beyond Vision 2030.
Ruto launched the process of developing Vision 2060 on July 30, saying the framework would be shaped through nationwide consultations involving the private sector, academia, civil society, faith-based organisations, professionals, workers, creatives and young people.
The proposal has, however, attracted criticism from opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has questioned the focus on a decades-long development plan amid the country’s immediate economic and security challenges.