Jaoko, a nephew of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, made the remarks on Friday, December 26, 2025, in a post shared on X, accompanied by a video message.
His comments come slightly more than two months after Raila Odinga’s death on October 15, 2025, while undergoing medical treatment in India.
In his message, Jaoko said both President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga believed in the same long-term goal — transforming Kenya into a highly developed and competitive economy.
“President William Ruto and Rt Hon Raila Odinga shared a common dream: to see Kenya rise to the level that Singapore enjoys today,” Jaoko said.
“This dream is achievable, but it requires a shift in mindset and a national consensus that we must work together as one people.”
Jaoko was appointed to an advisory role in April 2025 and has since been vocal on governance and economic transformation issues. His statement reinforces the growing political narrative around unity and economic reform following Raila Odinga’s passing.
Ruto’s development vision
President Ruto has repeatedly referenced Singapore as a model for Kenya’s development, citing its rapid transformation from a poor state into a global economic hub.
The President has argued that Kenya can follow a similar path through disciplined leadership, infrastructure expansion, and economic reforms.
Among the proposals linked to this vision is a massive infrastructure-driven economic plan, including discussions around a multitrillion-shilling development fund aimed at accelerating industrial growth and job creation.
Supporters of the idea say the “Singapore dream” offers a clear framework for long-term planning, while critics argue that Kenya must first address governance weaknesses before such ambitions can be realised.
Lessons from past failures
Kenya’s struggle to emulate Singapore is not new. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently revisited an earlier attempt to partner with Singapore during his tenure as Finance Minister in the 1990s.
In an interview on December 25, 2025, Mudavadi revealed that he had personally engaged Singaporean authorities to help modernise the Port of Mombasa, drawing on Singapore’s global reputation for port efficiency and logistics management.
According to Mudavadi, a team from Singapore was invited to Kenya, and initial discussions showed promise.
However, powerful vested interests benefiting from inefficiencies and irregular practices resisted the reforms.
“These investors eventually walked away,” Mudavadi said, noting that internal resistance and entrenched cartels derailed the project.
He argued that many of Kenya’s development challenges are self-inflicted and could be overcome by embracing global best practices, transparency, and accountability.
Why Singapore stands out
Singapore’s transformation is often attributed to strong institutions, disciplined governance, continuity in leadership, and a strict stance against corruption under its founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew.
Kenya has drawn inspiration from this model for decades, with successive governments referencing it in national development plans.
President Ruto has revived the idea, positioning it as part of a broader push to move Kenya toward high-income status within the next three decades.
However, the feasibility of this ambition remains contested.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga, in a statement shared on X on December 18, 2025, compared Singapore’s success — built on fiscal discipline, merit-based leadership, and domestic wealth creation — with Kenya’s growing public debt and governance challenges.
Maraga pointed out that Kenya’s public debt has risen sharply, from about Ksh8.6 trillion to over Ksh12 trillion by late 2025, raising concerns about sustainability.
Skepticism from opposition leaders
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has also questioned whether the Singapore vision is realistic under current economic conditions.
In a television interview on December 21, 2025, Kalonzo cited rising unemployment, companies relocating to neighbouring countries, and the high cost of living.
He warned that without tangible reforms, the Singapore dream could follow the same path as Vision 2030 — a bold idea that fell short of expectations for many Kenyans.
