EDITORIAL: Turn Singapore rhetoric into action

President William Ruto’s frequent reference to turning Kenya into a “Singapore of Africa” speaks to a desire many Kenyans share.

Kenyans want a country that works, where systems are efficient, streets are orderly and public institutions inspire confidence rather than suspicion.

Singapore did not stumble into this status by accident, and it certainly did not achieve it through rhetoric alone.

Its rise was the result of deliberate, often uncomfortable choices that prioritised integrity, discipline and the rule of law over political convenience.

What defined Singapore was not just rapid economic growth, but the character of its governance. Corruption was treated as a national threat, not an inconvenience to be managed. Public servants faced severe consequences for abuse of office. Independent institutions were allowed to function without interference.

Kenya’s reality remains different. Corruption continues to seep through procurement, service delivery and everyday interactions with the state. Nepotism and tribal considerations still influence appointments and access, weakening merit and public trust.

Court orders are ignored selectively and accountability is frequently loud in language but lacking in action. It is difficult to build a Singapore on such ground.

If the ambition is genuine, then the President must focus less on the destination and more on the discipline that made it possible. Fixing the basics means enforcing laws impartially, protecting institutions from political capture and signalling, through action, that corruption has real consequences. It means rewarding competence over loyalty and order over chaos.