Jaoko Oburu calls for unity to achieve Kenya’s Singapore dream
By Faith Lagat, December 26, 2025Jaoko Oburu Odinga, nephew of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has urged Kenyans to unite in pursuing a shared vision of elevating the country to Singapore’s level of development.
The call comes two months after Raila Odinga’s death on October 15, 2025, while receiving medical treatment in India. Jaoko, appointed to his advisory role in April 2025, highlighted the alignment between his late uncle and President Ruto on economic transformation.
In a post on X dated December 26, 2025, accompanied by a video clip, Jaoko stated, “President William Ruto and Rt Hon Raila Odinga C.G.H. shared a common dream: to see Kenya reach the level that Singapore enjoys today. This goal is within our reach and can be achieved through a shift in mindset and a national consensus that we must work together.”
President Ruto has frequently referenced the “Singapore dream” as a blueprint for Kenya’s development, aiming to transition the country to first-world status through massive infrastructure investments, including a proposed Ksh 5 trillion fund.
Historical challenges and lessons
Historical challenges underscore the difficulties in achieving the Singapore aspiration. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, in an interview on December 25, 2025, recounted his efforts during his tenure as Finance Minister (1993-1997) to partner with Singapore in modernising the Port of Mombasa.
Mudavadi revealed that he personally negotiated with Singaporean officials and brought a team to Kenya. The partnership aimed to leverage Singapore’s renowned port efficiency. Yet, vested interests described as cartels benefiting from irregular practices frustrated the investors, leading them to abandon the project.
Mudavadi emphasised that many infrastructure hurdles in Kenya are self-imposed, calling for the adoption of global best practices.
Inspiration from Singapore
The Singapore aspiration draws inspiration from the city-state’s transformation under founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, based on effective authority, institutional continuity, and disciplined governance.
Kenya has employed this model for decades, with Ruto reviving it to aim for high-income status within 30 years.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga, in a December 18, 2025, statement on X, contrasted Singapore’s success, built on ruthless anti-corruption measures, fiscal restraint, merit-based governance, and domestic wealth creation, with Kenya’s challenges, including rising public debt from Ksh8.6 trillion to over Ksh12 trillion by late 2025.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, in a December 21, 2025, TV interview, questioned the feasibility amid economic strains, such as company migrations to neighbouring countries and youth unemployment, comparing it to unfulfilled goals of Vision 2030.