Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged development partners to support Kenya’s ambitious goal of achieving first-world economic status within a generation.

Speaking at the 14th Development Partners Forum in Karen on Wednesday January 14, 2026, Kindiki expressed confidence that Kenya can replicate the success of Asian Tigers like Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.

“Our next vision is clear; to transform Kenya into a first-world economy within a generation. We are persuaded beyond doubt that if other countries elsewhere have done it, Kenya has what it takes to do it as well,” he stated.

Kindiki reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda as the key framework for development.

“We have not abandoned BETA. We want Kenya to move to first world economic status within one generation and the paradigm that will take us there is BETA,” he assured.

Kindiki identified people, partnerships, and technology as the main drivers of transformation, with agriculture, water, and energy as critical pillars.

The government plans to build 50 mega dams, 200 mid-sized dams, and 1,000 mini-dams to expand irrigation and boost agricultural productivity.

Infrastructure development and an additional 7,000 megawatts of electricity generation are also targeted through Public-Private Partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms including a Sovereign Wealth Fund and Infrastructure Fund.

The Deputy President emphasized that national values, security, and human capital development are essential enablers of this transformation.

“We are going to promote a society based on integrity, patriotism, justice, equality and respect for the rule of law, national unity. Unless we instill this in ourselves and the younger generation, the transformation will falter,” he noted.