Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has attributed the stagnation of developing nations like Kenya to a deeply entrenched culture of excessive talk and minimal action, arguing that this habit has significantly hindered progress in critical areas.
The DP made these remarks on Friday, January 7, 2025, while in Kisumu as the chief guest at the Nyanza International Investment Conference.
Kindiki was justifying his decision to forgo a prepared speech, arguing that he preferred a different approach.
This is when he asserted that Kenya’s challenges do not stem from a lack of knowledge but rather from an obsession with endless discussions instead of tangible action.
“I think we have taken longer than we should have taken. I will also not read a speech because we all know what needs to be done. The problem with the developing world is that we like talking to ourselves and talking too much—all the time. We have very few people actually doing things, yet we all know what needs to be done. And every speaker who comes here will say the same things,” he stated.
Representing President Ruto
Kindiki attended the event on behalf of President William Ruto and relayed the president’s greetings to the attendees. He explained Ruto’s absence, noting that he was currently in the North Eastern region—a place he had yet to visit since assuming office.
“Allow me to say that I have come here to represent President William Ruto, who sends his greetings. He would have wanted to be here, but having recently visited Nyanza, he thought it was important to prioritize North Eastern, as he has not been there since becoming president. He has been on a four-day tour and is concluding his visit today in Isiolo,” Kindiki stated.
The deputy president further revealed that President Ruto was set to travel to Dar es Salaam later in the evening for a crucial EAC and SADC summit focused on resolving the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He underscored that Ruto was a key decision-maker in shaping the resolution efforts, and that was why he had to make the trip.
Kindiki also used that as a reason for his early departure from the conference, despite being the chief guest.
“You will allow me—exactly at 2 PM—I will have to leave as I will be seeing him off as he heads to Dar es Salaam, where the EAC and SADC are convening to deliberate on the DRC situation,” he disclosed.
Kenya Kwanza’s work going unnoticed
While commending the Nyanza region for playing a pivotal role in Kenya’s development, Kindiki lamented that the Kenya Kwanza administration’s achievements remain overlooked.
He insisted that President Ruto’s government has made significant strides in the two years since assuming office, particularly in fulfilling their 168-point manifesto.
However, he noted that much of this progress remains underappreciated because the administration has been prioritizing macroeconomic stabilization—work that isn’t always immediately visible but is crucial for long-term transformation.
“Let me explain what this administration is doing to revive and transform Kenya’s economy and empower its citizens. Our manifesto contains about 168 commitments, but they can be grouped into five broad areas that are crucial to our national transformation. The first and most important is macroeconomic stability. Over the last two years, a lot of unseen work has been done to curb volatility in key macroeconomic indicators,” Kindiki explained.
The deputy president emphasized that stabilizing the economy lays the foundation for sustainable growth and assured that, in due time, Kenya Kwanza’s efforts will translate into tangible benefits for all Kenyans.
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