You can’t shrink a nation to fit a leader: Karungo Thang’wa blasts Ruto’s Singapore dream
By Faith Lagat, January 4, 2026Kiambu County Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has criticized President William Ruto’s vision of transforming Kenya into an economic powerhouse similar to Singapore, arguing that the country’s size and complexities make such a model unrealistic.
In a post on X dated January 4, 2026, Thang’wa said Kenya, which is roughly 800 times larger than Singapore in land area, cannot be reshaped to fit what he called unrealistic ambitions.
He emphasised that leadership should be aligned with the nation’s scale and needs, rather than forcing the country to match a leader’s aspirations.
“You don’t shrink a country to fit a ruler. You elect a ruler who fits the country. We cannot shrink a nation like Kenya, a country 800 times bigger than Singapore, just to accommodate Kasongo’s fake dreams,” read Karungo Wa Thang’wa X post.
Opposition voices question feasibility
Thang’wa’s comments add to growing opposition criticism of Ruto’s “Singapore dream,” which the President has promoted as a blueprint for rapid economic development, including infrastructure expansion, urban planning, and poverty reduction.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua echoed similar concerns during a church service at AIPCA Kiratina in Githunguri Constituency, Kiambu County, on January 4, 2026.
Gachagua urged President Ruto to prioritise fulfilling earlier campaign promises under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda before pursuing grand international comparisons.
He criticised the replacement of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) with the Social Health Authority (SHA), describing the new system as problematic and calling for its removal in favor of restoring NHIF.
Gachagua accused the President of misleading citizens and warned against discussions of Singapore-style transformations while domestic issues remain unresolved.
Other political leaders weigh in
These criticisms follow earlier remarks by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who in December 2025 dismissed the Singapore vision as unattainable given challenges such as companies relocating to neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Uganda, and high youth unemployment. Musyoka described the approach as a distraction from pressing domestic issues.
President Ruto has defended his agenda, outlining plans in late 2025 addresses to elevate Kenya to first-world status through infrastructure, housing, and economic reforms inspired by Singapore’s disciplined growth model.