Ruto details what is important to him as president, and it is not the next election

The president of Kenya, William Ruto, recently opened up about a meeting he had with former President Uhuru Kenyatta following the 2022 General Election.

• Kenyan President William Ruto discussed his post-election outreach to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and other leaders to foster long-term national prosperity.
• Ruto emphasized his effort to transcend partisan politics and engage with people from diverse backgrounds to develop a collective vision for Kenya.
• The president stressed the importance of partnerships with anyone dedicated to advancing national interests, regardless of political or ethnic affiliations.
• Ruto expressed that true leadership is about making decisions that benefit future generations rather than focusing on short-term political gains or upcoming elections.

After taking office, the Kenyan president revealed that he wished to engage several leaders, including his predecessor, in conversations aimed at developing ideas that may help Kenya's long-term prosperity.

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The president emphasized that his outreach went beyond partisan boundaries in an effort to create a shared national vision that would go beyond any particular administration.

Speaking at a media roundtable in Wajir, Ruto disclosed that he engaged people from all industries and political backgrounds to collect thoughts on the country's development goal.

When asked about his encounters with Uhuru Kenyatta, the president refrained from singling out any one person, noting that his conversations were thorough and involved many people across the country, Tuko reports.

“That's a difficult question because I do not want to offend people. I reached out to as many people as I could. I work with many people across Kenya at different levels," he said

He indicated that he had spoken with several leaders and stakeholders at all levels, emphasizing that his purpose was not political, but rather to identify realistic solutions that may assist in driving Kenya's economic growth and accomplish national development objectives.

"First, we need to generate energy. We do not have enough energy. Number two, we need to develop more infrastructure, especially transport and logistics, roads, toll roads, highways, airports, and seaports. We need to invest more money in those areas," Ruto said.

"We are a country that is still food-deficient. We have too many people in Kenya who do not have enough food. Too many.

That is why we have to do irrigation. That is why I have said we need to put another 2.5 million acres under agricultural production for food security and also for our exports," he added.

According to Ruto, the purpose of these interactions was to develop ideas that would enhance the country's future and help Kenya achieve its larger goals.

The Kenyan president affirmed his continued openness to partnerships with anyone committed to advancing Kenya's national interests, regardless of their ethnic background, geographic location, or political affiliation.

However, he expressed concern about leaders who circumvent difficult decisions due to a preoccupation with upcoming electoral cycles and a prioritization of immediate political gains.

"What is important is not the next election. What matters is what we do today for the next generation, when we will no longer be here. That is how countries that have succeeded stretched their imagination and took their nations further," he said.

In the President's view, the authentic measure of leadership lies in the capacity to enact policies that secure the well-being of future generations rather than pursuing transitory political approval.