Nyong’o Warns Five-Year Election Cycle Can Hurt Long-Term Development

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has warned that frequent political transitions brought about by Kenya’s five-year election cycle can sometimes disrupt development by derailing effective policies and long-term projects.

Speaking during a Citizen TV Explainer session, Nyong’o said while regular elections are the foundation of democracy, they can also have unintended consequences if successive administrations abandon programmes initiated by their predecessors.

“The fact that every five years we have elections and changes has its pros and cons; it can be detrimental sometimes to development. Too many frequent changes can hurt good policies and projects,” Nyong’o said.

Nyong’o Calls for Stable Institutions Beyond Just Elections 

He argued that Kenya should strengthen constitutional safeguards to protect key institutions from political changes that accompany elections.

According to Nyong’o, some public institutions should continue operating independently regardless of which political leaders assume office after an election.

“We must then have safeguards in our Constitution that establish certain institutions that are not affected by changes resulting from elections,” he said.

In addition, the Kisumu governor stated that such institutions should exist beyond political transitions to ensure continuity in implementing national policies and development programmes.

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Further, Nyong’o acknowledged that elections remain essential to democratic governance because they allow citizens to choose their leaders and provide opportunities for political participation.

“The problem we have is that every five years we have an election and changes. It has its pros and cons. On the one hand, it gives people the opportunity to rise, to position themselves in political representation, which is democratic,” he said.

However, he noted that the same political transitions can sometimes interrupt development if governments frequently change direction.

Vision 2030 Requires Long-Term Political Commitment 

Nyong’o also said he favours an executive government system in which leaders are held accountable for governing during their constitutional terms while ensuring continuity in national development.

Also Read: Kisumu Governor Nyong’o Breaks Silence on Raphael Tuju Loan Dispute

Meanwhile, despite his concerns about political transitions, the governor said he does not believe Kenya’s election cycles have negatively affected the country’s long-term development blueprint, Vision 2030.

“I don’t think the changing election cycles have had an adverse effect on the 2030 Vision because I don’t think, from my point of view, that any political party has expressed reservations about Vision 2030. None,” he said.

He added that national development plans such as Vision 2030 and even future initiatives like Vision 2060 represent the country’s collective interests rather than those of any individual political party.

Furthermore, Nyong’o stated that maintaining broad political support for long-term national development strategies is essential to ensuring they remain on course regardless of changes in government.

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Kisumu Governor Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o presiding over a pst function in March 2026. PHOTO/Nyong’o