Speaking in a recent interview, Mudavadi recalled events from the 1990s when Kenya attempted to modernise the Port of Mombasa through an international partnership.
At the time, he was serving as the Minister for Finance and was deeply involved in discussions aimed at improving efficiency at the country’s largest and most important port.
According to Mudavadi, Kenya had identified Singapore as a strategic partner because of its global reputation in port management.
Singapore runs one of the most efficient ports in the world, handling massive cargo volumes with speed, transparency, and minimal corruption.
The plan, he explained, was to work with experts from Singapore to help raise the Port of Mombasa to international standards.
This would have reduced delays, lowered the cost of doing business, and made Kenya a stronger trade hub for East and Central Africa.
Mudavadi revealed that he personally travelled to Singapore to negotiate the partnership. The talks were successful, and a team of experts agreed to visit Kenya to assess the port and explore ways of improving its infrastructure and operations.
However, what followed shocked the foreign investors.
Mudavadi said that shortly after the Singaporean team arrived in Kenya, they began facing resistance from individuals and groups who were benefiting from inefficiencies at the port.
These cartels, he noted, were not interested in reforms because order and transparency would have disrupted their illegal gains.
“The people who were thriving in chaos did everything possible to frustrate the process,” Mudavadi said.
“They did not want the port to meet international standards.”
The Singaporean team reportedly encountered constant obstacles, hostility, and delays.
Eventually, the situation became so difficult that they decided to abandon the project altogether and leave the country.
The failed partnership, Mudavadi noted, was a missed opportunity that could have transformed the Port of Mombasa decades ago.
Reflecting on the incident, the Prime Cabinet Secretary said many of Kenya’s development challenges are self-inflicted.
He argued that while the country often blames external forces for slow progress, internal resistance to change is a bigger problem.
Mudavadi urged Kenyans to learn from countries that have succeeded by embracing global best practices instead of rejecting them.
“We cannot grow if we close ourselves off from the world,” he said.
“We must be willing to learn from others who have done things better.”
The remarks come at a time when the government is once again pushing for major infrastructure reforms.
President William Ruto has frequently spoken about the “Singapore model” as part of his vision to turn Kenya into a first-world economy.
Earlier this month, the government announced plans to roll out a multi-trillion-shilling infrastructure financing programme aimed at modernising roads, ports, railways, and other key facilities.
While supporters see this as a bold step forward, critics have raised concerns about debt and accountability.
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