Former public servant James Ole Kiyiapi has issued a stark warning to President William Ruto’s administration on Kenya’s ambition to become a “Singapore of Africa.”
On social media platform X, Kiyiapi said the idea is admirable but “remains a pipe dream unless leadership ensures discipline, honesty, and meritocracy.”
He warned that no country can make a giant leap while officials flaunt wealth and waste public resources.
Corruption, he said, is Kenya’s most stubborn problem and must be tackled before any serious development can happen.
Kiyiapi also called for merit-based appointments in key sectors, cautioning against decisions driven by tribal loyalty or politics.
“Put the best human capital in key sectors, but not when we worship tribes and politics. The rest really is mechanics,” he wrote.
His comments come as President Ruto pushes Kenya’s economic transformation agenda, hoping to turn the country into a hub like Singapore.
Kiyiapi’s warning taps into growing public debate over whether Kenya’s institutions are ready for such a transformation.