Former Chief Justice David Maraga has launched a blistering critique of President William Ruto’s ambition to model Kenya on Singapore, calling the comparison “deeply misleading” and warning the nation is heading in the opposite direction.

The intervention from the revered former head of the judiciary injects a powerful, authoritative voice into the growing national debate over the Kenya Kwanza administration's economic blueprint and its adherence to constitutional principles. Maraga’s critique questions the very viability of the President’s development agenda, arguing that the foundational pillars of Singapore’s success are absent in Kenya’s current political and economic climate.

A Flawed Foundation

In a detailed statement, Maraga asserted that Singapore's economic miracle was not built on slogans but on five core principles: ruthless anti-corruption enforcement, fiscal discipline, a competent government, zero tolerance for waste, and domestic wealth creation. He contrasted this with Kenya's current reality, pointing to a ballooning public debt that has surged from approximately KES 8.6 trillion to over KES 12 trillion in under three years. This debt, he noted, consumes over 70% of ordinary revenue, leaving little for essential services.

“This explosion of borrowing has not delivered world-class healthcare, affordable education, or transformational infrastructure,” Maraga stated. “Instead, it has largely funded a bloated state, inflated contracts, and serial corruption scandals.”

The KES 5 Trillion Vision

President Ruto has frequently cited Singapore as the model for his plan to elevate Kenya to a first-world economy. During his State of the Nation address on November 20, 2025, he unveiled an ambitious KES 5 trillion blueprint aimed at transforming the country. The strategy rests on four key pillars:

• Investing in human capital and education.
• Transforming the economy from a net importer to an exporter.
• Boosting energy generation to 10,000 megawatts.
• Modernizing transport, including extending the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Malaba.

However, analysts have pointed out the stark differences between the two nations, citing Kenya's struggles with endemic corruption and political patronage, which stand in sharp contrast to Singapore's renowned efficiency and low levels of corruption.

A Crisis of Governance

Maraga, who has declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2027, framed the issue as a fundamental crisis of governance. He has consistently argued that the root of Kenya’s problems is a defiance of the law, which enables corruption to thrive. “Impunity is what has brought this country to where it is today,” he remarked in a previous interview, adding that people plunder public resources because they know they are protected by those in high office.

The former Chief Justice's critique goes beyond economic policy, accusing the administration of undermining constitutional values and failing to address the challenges affecting ordinary citizens. For many Kenyans grappling with the high cost of living, the grand vision of a new Singapore feels distant from their daily reality.

As the President pushes forward with his ambitious agenda, Maraga’s pointed warnings serve as a powerful reminder of the foundational principles at stake. “Singapore did not become Singapore by accident, slogans, or PR,” Maraga emphasized. “It became Singapore through discipline, integrity, and leadership that treated public resources as sacred.”