NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 27 – The Chancellor of the Co-operative University of Kenya, Benard Chitunga, has attributed the economic success of Singapore and China to their autocratic systems of government.
Speaking during a panel discussion, Chitunga said centralized governance in the two countries allows decisions and projects to be implemented faster, without lengthy bureaucratic processes.
He argued that fewer layers of consultation enable authorities to follow clear development pathways with minimal delays.
President William Ruto earlier this month promoted what he termed the “Singapore Dream,” outlining a 15 to 30-year economic vision aimed at transforming Kenya into a first-world economy.
Under the plan, the President unveiled a proposed National Infrastructure Fund targeting to raise five trillion shillings to finance major development projects.
The strategy also includes the planned sale of some state-owned enterprises, including the Kenya Pipeline Company, alongside construction of a new international airport in Nairobi and the dualling of the Nairobi–Nakuru highway.
However, the plan has drawn criticism, with Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o questioning its viability amid fiscal constraints and rising public debt.
Opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua, have also expressed reservations, arguing that the Singapore model contradicts the government’s Bottom-Up economic agenda.
