Gachagua Questions Ruto’s Vision 2060 Focus
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stepped up his criticism of President William Ruto’s Vision 2060 plan, arguing that the government should concentrate on urgent daily struggles rather than a decades-long development blueprint.
Speaking in Kinangop, Nyandarua County, on Sunday, he insisted that citizens facing immediate economic and security hardships need practical solutions now. Gachagua maintained that long-term visions offer little comfort to those grappling with present-day challenges across farming communities and urban areas.
He highlighted the difficulties faced by rice, maize, tea and dairy farmers who are battling falling incomes, market problems and rising production costs. “Farmers in Mwea and Ahero do not want to hear about Vision 2060. They want the government to stop importing rice so that locally produced rice can be bought here in the country. They need that money now to educate their children,” Gachagua said. He also pointed to maize growers in Bomet, Olenguruone and other areas who allegedly suffered losses of up to 70 per cent after using poor-quality fertiliser, demanding clear interventions for those affected.
The former deputy president further criticised the 0.8 per cent tea levy, warning that it could reduce farmer bonuses by discouraging buyers. In Nyandarua he cited the closure of the New KCC processing plant in Nyahururu, claiming some dairy farmers had gone four months without payment and that the facility was being allowed to collapse for private takeover. These examples, he argued, showed a failure to tackle pressing economic issues that directly affect livelihoods.
Gachagua also questioned the government’s response to rising insecurity, including attacks on commuters near the SGR section of the Nairobi Expressway. “People of the country want to know when these goons will be dealt with. Stop telling people about Vision 2060 and tell them what you are doing today,” he stated. He raised additional concerns about preparedness for heavy rains and potential flooding, as well as the re-emergence of illicit alcohol in parts of the Central region despite earlier efforts to eliminate it.
The remarks come shortly after President Ruto launched the process to develop Vision 2060 as the successor to Vision 2030, inviting broad public input. Gachagua has urged certain groups to stay away from the consultations, saying the exercise risks distracting from problems that require immediate attention. As he builds opposition momentum ahead of the next general election and calls for a united candidate to challenge the administration, the debate over long-term planning versus current realities continues to sharpen.
