Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has recalled how vested interests stopped the development of the Port of Mombasa, one of Kenya’s key infrastructures.

In an interview with Chams Media TV on Thursday, December 25, 2025, Mudavadi disclosed that when he served as the Finance Minister, between 1993 and 1997, Kenya explored a potential partnership with Singapore for the development of the Port of Mombasa.

“The Singapore ports are one of the most efficient ports globally. I went to Singapore, and I had time to negotiate with them. I came with those people to Kenya,” the CS revealed.

However, the move to renovate the Port of Mombasa by the Singaporeans was strongly opposed by people Mudavadi described as cartels, who he claimed were benefiting from rogue practices at the port.

He disclosed that the cartels constantly frustrated the foreign investors to the point that the Singaporeans decided to leave the country, abandoning the multi-million shilling project.

“When we brought these people to partner with the Port of Mombasa, the cartels in Mombasa who did not want Mombasa to achieve international standards fought and chased away the team from Singapore and frustrated them,” he disclosed.

While reflecting on the incident, Mudavadi noted that the challenges facing Kenyans, particularly in infrastructure development, are mostly self-imposed.

“Kenya will not grow if we continue as an inward-looking people. We must get ourselves to see the examples, the developments and the best practices that are taking place in other countries,” the CS reiterated.

Ruto’s Singapore dream

Mudavadi’s revalations comes amid a push by President William Ruto to make Kenya a first-world country in a period of about 30 years, in what he often refers to as the “Singapore dream”.

He has already unveiled his plans to his administration believe will transform the country.

The Head of State has already initiated the Ksh5 trillion Infrastructure Fund to support that goal, amid sharp criticism from the opposition that the move is just a dead cat strategy.

Ruto said the fund is critical to financing large-scale infrastructure projects and closing development gaps in parts of the country that have historically lagged.

“We must change our development model. We cannot continue doing the same things the same way and expect different results,” the President said.

Singapore’s founding premier, Lee Kuan Yew, built a legacy now admired across Africa, particularly in Kenya and Rwanda, two countries fond of invoking his methods.

His formula rested on three principles: effective authority, institutional continuity, and a graceful transfer of power. Kenya has struggled with all three.