In this interview, Mugo Kibati, former Director-General Kenya’s Vision 2030 Delivery Board, talks about his role in implementing the long-term development plan that lays out specific political, economic, and social guidelines to grow Kenya into a competitive, middle-income country.  Marketing Vision 2030 to a public accustomed to failed government promises was an initial challenge, he notes, as were the ethnic and political divisions that needed to be overcome. However, Kibati explains how local outreach to Kenyans and targeted initiatives to different communities ultimately helped Vision 2030 gain support across the country. He further explains how he addressed the tension between politicians motivated by five-year election cycles and the need for patience on long-term projects by outlining stepwise progress measures that political leaders could point to as indicators of success.  Kibati offers advice to reformers in other countries, citing the importance of understanding political and community context as well as patience with bureaucracy in his efforts to effectively execute Vision 2030’s goals.