Kaikai, speaking on Thursday, December 18, during Citizen TV’s News Gang show, argued that Singapore’s small size and population make it a poor comparison for a country as large as Kenya.
“Do we know how small Singapore is in terms of size compared to Kenya? Singapore is a city-state, a very small country that is 50 km in diameter, which is like Nairobi to Thika. Singapore is nearly 800 times smaller than Kenya. In terms of population, Singapore is only 6 million, the same population as Nairobi,” Kaikai said.
The journalist warned that Kenya’s leaders should approach aspirations to emulate other developed nations carefully, so as not to embarrass the country.
The journalist warned that Kenya’s leaders should approach aspirations to emulate other developed nations carefully, so as not to embarrass the country.
“When we look at economic and development models at the position of the president, I don’t think it is something to be loud about, to come out here and say now we want to become Singapore in terms of economy. It is all well to start the journey, but ensure the narrative is not going to embarrass the public,” Kaikai added.
Responding to the criticism, DP Kindiki defended Kenya’s ambitious plans, noting that Singapore is just one of several models under consideration.
Responding to the criticism, DP Kindiki defended Kenya’s ambitious plans, noting that Singapore is just one of several models under consideration.
He emphasized that Kenya is also looking at other Asian countries with much larger populations and territories, particularly China.
“Pessimistic comments about Singapore being a tiny 735-square-kilometer city-state incomparable to Kenya should note that Kenya’s first-world ambition is modeling on a few more Asian countries besides Singapore,” Kindiki said.
“Pessimistic comments about Singapore being a tiny 735-square-kilometer city-state incomparable to Kenya should note that Kenya’s first-world ambition is modeling on a few more Asian countries besides Singapore,” Kindiki said.
He highlighted China’s transformation as a benchmark, stating, “China, a 9.6 million-square-kilometer mega country of 1.5 billion people, compared to Kenya’s 582,646 square kilometers and 55 million people, is almost 17 times larger than Kenya.
China’s turning point was 1978, just the other day. In 40 years, it moved from being a poor, isolated country to first world. Kenya will transition to first world in our lifetime.”
The remarks come after President William Ruto, during his State of the Nation address on November 20, 2025, outlined a bold ten-year plan to transform Kenya into a first-world nation.
The remarks come after President William Ruto, during his State of the Nation address on November 20, 2025, outlined a bold ten-year plan to transform Kenya into a first-world nation.
His vision includes ambitious infrastructure projects potentially costing over Ksh5 trillion, to be funded through innovative mechanisms like a National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund, rather than traditional borrowing or increased taxation.
The plan encompasses over 2,500 kilometers of dual carriageways, tarmacking of 28,000 kilometers of roads, completion of the Standard Gauge Railway to Malaba, and construction of at least 50 mega dams alongside hundreds of smaller dams to bring 2.5 million acres under irrigation.
The plan encompasses over 2,500 kilometers of dual carriageways, tarmacking of 28,000 kilometers of roads, completion of the Standard Gauge Railway to Malaba, and construction of at least 50 mega dams alongside hundreds of smaller dams to bring 2.5 million acres under irrigation.
Seed funding for the projects is expected to come from revenues generated by natural resources and the privatization of national assets, aiming to preserve generational wealth, mobilize capital, and ensure Kenya becomes more competitive globally.
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