Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has defended the government’s push to increase national savings, arguing that President William Ruto’s focus on the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) aligns with the economic blueprint that transformed Singapore into a global powerhouse.

Speaking on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, during a morning talk show with a local station, the Senator addressed the “Singapore thing” that is often pushed by the president, clarifying that Singapore’s success was rooted in a culture of mandatory domestic investment rather than external debt.

“Singapore was actually built based on savings, serious savings from those people who were either in business or who are in formal employment,” Oketch stated.

Ruto on NSSF contribution

He said that President Ruto has really tried very well to do so through the enhancement of NSSF contributions.

According to Oketch, Singapore was built on the basis of savings from people who were either in business or in formal employment.

“I think it’s something that the President really tried very well to do, and through this NSSF savings, where they were increased, and then it also means that our pension savings will be increased,” Oketch said.

” What Singapore did was to encourage people to save heavily on pension, and then they would not go and borrow money from outside countries to be able to build their country.”

He said that they borrow from their own pension schemes and their pension infrastructure, which makes it easier for them to make sure that the small businesses that they have in their country have a chance to borrow from banks.

Ruto’s journey to Singapore

President William Ruto has been at the lead, reiterating his commitment to moving Kenya into a first-world country and that the government is working towards laying a strong foundation to achieve this goal.

Speaking at the State House in Nairobi on Monday, January 26, 2026, while chairing the United Democratic Alliance National Governing Council meeting, Ruto has challenged the opposition to present their scorecard and tell the nation what plan they have for bettering the lives of Kenyans, were they to be elected

“Our commitment to moving Kenya to a first-world economy is on a solid foundation. We challenge our competition to present their scorecard and disclose to Kenyans what better plan they have in making our country better, “said Ruto.