Friday 14th August, 2026 06:18 AM|
A new long-term development plan intended to guide Kenya after the expiry of Vision 2030 is taking shape, with a multi-sectoral working panel expected to be constituted in the coming weeks.
The panel will spearhead the drafting of what is being referred to as the Beyond Vision 2030 Economic Transformation Plan, a proposal that organizers say will undergo public debate across all 47 counties before eventually being turned into legislation and tabled in Parliament.
The announcement was made during discussions linked to the ongoing National Conversation process, with Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, who has been involved in preparing strategic proposals for Kenya’s post-2030 development agenda, outlining how the process is expected to unfold.
Why is a new plan being proposed?
Kenya’s current Vision 2030 blueprint, launched in 2008, was designed to transform the country into a middle-income economy by the year 2030 through investments in key sectors such as infrastructure, education, health and governance.
With 2030 now less than four years away, policymakers and economic experts are beginning to ask what should replace the current framework and how the country should define its development priorities for the decades beyond 2030.
According to Prof. Nyong’o, the objective is not simply to extend Vision 2030 but to create a fresh national consensus on the country’s future.
“What is important is for the conversation to start, as it has been initiated by the President, so that the people know and can question certain assumptions that we have had in the past in developing the nation, and come up with proposals that will take us forward,” he said.
What will the working panel do?
The proposed panel is expected to bring together experts from government, the private sector, academia and other professional groups.
Its first task will be to collect expert opinions and proposals on the country’s long-term economic and social priorities before preparing a draft framework.
One of the most significant aspects of the process is the planned county-level engagement.
After the initial draft is prepared, it will be presented to county assemblies and discussed through grassroots forums involving elected leaders and local stakeholders.
Nyong’o said counties would organize their own conversations involving MCAs, MPs, senators and other leaders.
“If we take the initiative in Kisumu, for example, we’ll call all the leaders in the county and begin the conversation,” he said.The aim is to gather oral and written memoranda from citizens before the proposal is revised.
What happens after the county debates?
The updated draft will then be taken to a second National Conversation forum, where delegates will review the recommendations emerging from the counties.
If a broad consensus is reached, the recommendations will be converted into a Development Bill and submitted to both the National Assembly and the Senate.
Parliament will then debate the bill, propose amendments if necessary, and vote on it. Should both Houses approve it, the legislation will be forwarded to the President for assent.
If the President declines to sign it, the bill could be returned to Parliament with proposed amendments, following the normal constitutional legislative process.
Nyong’o suggested that the new framework would include clear benchmarks for assessing national performance in each pillar.
“At this point in time, how much has the country achieved in the health sector, in the infrastructure sector? And do these sectors meet the required standards?” he posed.
This points to a shift toward more measurable development targets rather than broad policy aspirations.
Will politics affect the process?
The initiative is being launched at a time when political activity is intensifying ahead of the next General Election, raising questions about whether the discussions could be overshadowed by campaign politics.
Nyong’o dismissed those concerns, arguing that national planning should continue regardless of electoral timelines.
“Elections are coming, fine. Elections must come, but that doesn’t stop you from discussing your future beyond the elections,” he said.
Organizers of the National Conversation also rejected claims that key stakeholders, including the Judiciary, had been left out of the process.
They maintained that the initiative is intended to be inclusive and that additional institutions and groups will be engaged as the consultations expand.
