Kenya’s “10-Point Agenda” Reform Drive Faces Growing Frustration as Deadline Nears

The high-stakes political pact known as the 10-Point Agenda, born out of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO)process intended to heal 2024 political tensions, is increasingly being criticized for slow progress — raising alarms among civil society, opposition figures, and governance watchdogs that Kenya’s governance reforms may be losing momentum just as public patience wanes. 

The Promise: A Blueprint for National Reform

In March 2025, President William Ruto and the late former ODM leader Raila Odinga signed a political agreement anchored in a 10-Point Agenda, aiming to translate the NADCO report into actionable governance and policy reforms. This deal was meant to address deep-rooted structural challenges, including electoral justice, inclusivity in governance, national unity, strengthening devolution, economic empowerment and job creation, as well as reforms to public finance and political party systems — a package designed to calm political tensions and set a reform trajectory ahead of the 2027 general election. 

Implementation Lags and Political Disquiet

Despite these commitments, government action has lagged, and multiple political actors are voicing concern:

• Delayed Implementation: A Standard Media investigation reports that the 10-Point Agenda’s rollout has stalled, with the COIN-10 committee — tasked with overseeing implementation of the agenda and the NADCO recommendations — making slow progress and raising doubts about meeting key timelines by March 2026. 

• Political Pressure: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders, including Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, have publicly urged Ruto’s administration to “honour the 10-Point Agenda,” warning that failure to move reforms forward could signal political backtracking rather than genuine partnership. 

• Parliamentary Action: Lawmakers are preparing to push NADCO-linked Bills through the National Assembly as part of the broader implementation framework, signalling that legislative organs are raising the agenda as a priority issue for the new session. 

Government Response and Pushback

Officials involved in the COIN-10 process have defended progress and stressed ongoing consultations:

• Stakeholder Engagement: The COIN-10 committee has planned public consultations to broaden participation and ensure that citizen voices shape the reform roadmap — part of efforts to translate political agreements into concrete policies and legal reforms. 

• Coordination with Government: The Head of Public Service has hosted the implementation committee to discuss concrete next steps and coordination across ministries, with government assurances of support for execution. 

• Political Clarifications: Committee members have warned against misrepresenting progress or using the agenda for political point-scoring, saying the official track record will be published ahead of the March report. 

Why Kenyans Are Watching

The 10-Point Agenda is not an abstract policy exercise; it underpins efforts to stabilise governance and respond to longstanding public concerns about electoral credibility, national inclusivity, cost of living pressures, and institutional reforms. Its implementation — or perceived abandonment — has significant implications:

• Political Trust: Failure to deliver on high-profile commitments threatens to erode trust between political factions and between the state and citizens, risking renewed tensions similar to the 2024 protests.

• Legislative Momentum: With the 2027 election cycle approaching, the pace at which related Bills proceed through Parliament will become a barometer of political will and bipartisan cooperation.

• Public Expectation: Civil society groups and reform advocates are urging that “we have seen the photos, but we have not seen the bills,” underscoring a demand for visible legislative and policy outcomes.

A Turning Point Ahead

As institutions, lawmakers, and stakeholders push for delivery, the government’s ability to operationalise the 10-Point Agenda will shape Kenya’s political and governance landscape in 2026 and beyond. Whether it becomes a cornerstone of structural reform or a political footnote depends on tangible progress in legislation, institutional reform, and public engagement — all against the backdrop of rising expectations and electoral timelines.