Kindiki: Criticism is expected because we won under a radical commitment

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said that the criticism the Kenya Kwanza administration receives everyday was expected.

Speaking on Thursday during the opening of the third national executive retreat in Karen, Nairobi, presided over by President William Ruto, Kindiki said it was because of the radical, daring and bold agenda they got elected into office with.

He went on to say their agenda was very popular and it promised to create an inclusive country where prosperity was shared across all walks of life.

The DP describe the moment Kenya Kwanza came into office as critical for the country because of the economic situation at the time.

“This administration was elected at a very critical point in terms of our country's economic situation. We were elected on a very popular agenda, which was to create an inclusive economy. An economy which brings onboard everyone, where the prosperity of the country is shared across economic classes. Quite radical.

“Therefore, the comments we hear every day about how far we are in that agenda are expected because we won under this radical, daring and bold commitment,” Kindiki said.

He said the third national executive retreat is an opportunity for government to also self-reflect on the progress made towards delivering the Kenya Kwanza promise to the people.

“We are also asking ourselves how far we have come in terms of delivering the brick and mortar for the nation’s development: the policies, programs, projects because right now at midterm it is about delivery, impact and not planning or rationalization.

“We are also asking ourselves how far have we come in terms of carrying along the stakeholders that constitutes the Kenyan society in national development and looking at what and where we can do better in the remaining two and half years. We are also asking ourselves, how effectively have we communicated what we are doing.”

In his remarks, President William Ruto reassured Kenyans of his administration's commitment to fully delivering on the promises made despite the concerns being raised by some critics.

Ruto said while the government’s reform agenda is ambitious, he is confident of it being achieved, dismissing claims that his government overpromised during the campaign period.

"This administration was elected on a platform of transformation, reforms, and doing things differently," he said.

"The accusation I often get is that we overpromised. But I want to tell you, we did not overpromise. We promised what is doable.”