President William Ruto has called on churches and other religious organisations to take a central role in shaping Kenya’s development agenda beyond Vision 2030, saying the country’s long-term planning cannot be left to the government alone.

Speaking at the African Brotherhood Church Women of Faith Congress at Scott Christian University in Machakos Town on Saturday, Ruto said religious leaders should contribute to discussions around Beyond Vision 2030 and the rollout of projects under the proposed National Infrastructure Fund.

“Planning for the future of our country is not the work of Government alone; it belongs to all of us,” Ruto said.

He said cooperation between the government, churches and communities would be critical in addressing hunger, water shortages, poverty, education gaps and unemployment.

“We want to work together to fight hunger, provide water and education, fight poverty and create wealth for our people. It is all possible if we unite and join hands,” he said.

Ruto said the National Infrastructure Fund would support the construction of roads, dams for irrigation and electricity generation, as well as water projects across the country, including in Lower Eastern Kenya.

The President also announced that the government would work with the African Brotherhood Church to expand the Eastern Kenya Integrated University, which recently received a Letter of Interim Authority to offer degree programmes.

He said the government was constructing 7,000 student hostel spaces for universities, Kenya Medical Training College campuses and technical institutions in Machakos County.

According to Ruto, 20 modern markets and 11,000 affordable housing units are also under construction in the county at a combined investment of Sh35 billion.

He later inspected the Kimutwa modern market in Machakos Town Constituency and said the facility was expected to be completed within two months.

At Makaveti trading centre, Ruto launched construction of the 20-kilometre Makaveti-Kyangala-Iuni road, a Sh1 billion project expected to improve transport and connectivity in the area.

He said the government was completing eight previously stalled roads and constructing seven new ones across Machakos County, covering more than 200 kilometres at a cost of about Sh10 billion.

“No region of Kenya will be left behind,” Ruto said, insisting that government investment would be distributed equitably.

On healthcare, the President said 820,000 Machakos residents had registered with the Social Health Authority, representing about 58 per cent of the county’s population.

He added that hospitals in Machakos had received Sh3.5 billion from the government for healthcare services since October 2024, citing the payments as evidence that SHA was working.

“My joy today is the testimonies from villages across Kenya of people who have received treatment and SHA has paid for them,” he said.

Ruto also criticised political leaders he accused of misleading Kenyans about government programmes and opposing development projects for political reasons.

“Even if you are a puppet or have been paid, please use a bit of intelligence and look for credible reasons for opposing our projects,” he said.

The President argued that leaders should ultimately be judged by their development record rather than political rhetoric, insults or ethnic mobilisation.

“I urge all leaders to work hard so that when the time comes, citizens will know who has delivered and who revels in insults, violence, ethnicity and hatred,” he said.

He further called for national unity, saying political competition should not be used to divide Kenyans.

Among those present were ABC Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, AIC Presiding Bishop Abraham Mulwa, MPs Caleb Mule, Joshua Mwalyo, Vincent Musau Kawaya and Mwengi Mutuse, ODM Nominated Senator Beth Syengo, as well as UDA governor aspirants Nzioka Waita and Philip Kaloki.

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