The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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By: Vincent Mumba
Kenya is caught in a tension between its past and its future. Some may argue that this tension has been simmering for a long time, and they would be right.
Every day in Kenya’s history has added another layer to this ongoing debate. Today, however, it seems that these layers have accumulated into something concrete, ready for everyone to examine. The central question is: “What must Kenya become to transcend what it has been?”
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A first-world nation? An African Singapore? A nation of “cousins” unified against a single leader? These are the visions floated by the current political class. Judging by the reactions of ordinary Kenyans, these ambitions lack imagination. Yet, politicians are doing something the nation itself has yet to attempt—they are defining their version of Kenya. There is significant power in being the one who shapes the narrative.
President William Ruto’s vision of Kenya as a first-world nation within 30 years, an African Singapore as he calls it, places him in the category of leaders bold enough to define the country’s future. Singapore is a tangible, well-documented success story, admired worldwide. So why does Ruto’s version feel more like a dream than a plan? It is not due to a lack of capacity to implement it.
The issue lies in his refusal to confront the systemic corruption that has hindered Kenya since its founding. This is not a passive oversight. His chief economic adviser, David Ndii, bluntly stated: “We shall leave Kenya as corrupt as we found it,” even as Ruto pursues food security, energy, and infrastructure projects. Corruption, Kenya’s slow poison, continues to flow through the veins of new initiatives.
By virtue of his office, Ruto is one of Kenya’s primary architects of its future. Yet, for all the marketing of a Singaporean utopia, he shows little interest in addressing corruption within his government. His defenders—bloggers, lieutenants, and political allies—blame past administrations or society itself, rather than his leadership. Ignoring public demands for accountability will hollow out his vision. Without moral reckoning, Ruto’s Singapore is mere rebranding.
When Ruto assumed the presidency, it was a moment filled with promise. Three years later, many of his pledges lie scattered, much like those of his predecessors. Kenyans sense that his latest promises may also fade into obscurity.
So what should Kenya become? It should be a nation that values integrity—in both private and public life. Kenya must be led by someone who articulates the people’s vision, not someone who weaponizes lofty goals for political gain.
Kenya must respect the lives of its citizens. Under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, hundreds were killed during protests. Under Ruto, hundreds more have died, despite his promise to break with past practices. If he cannot uphold this basic commitment, why should anyone believe in the delivery of a Singaporean vision? Ruto has demonstrated remarkable determination in pursuing the presidency, even enduring disrespect from colleagues in Uhuru’s cabinet. Where is that same determination to end the culture of brutality now?
Kenya must be a place where citizens do not have to choose between feeding their families and preserving their dignity. A government that engages in vote-buying and bribery cannot credibly lead a nation toward accountability, as evidenced in the late 2025 by-elections. Kenya has seen far too many students of Machiavelli.
Kenya must enable, not obstruct, the aspirations of every citizen. No bribery for documents or jobs, no unjust taxes, and no half-baked policies. Expanding food production, building highways, and generating electricity can create measurable progress, but it is the moral infrastructure of leadership that truly defines a nation. These moral highways must lead to one metric: dignity. Kenya cannot allow itself to become a country of poorly educated, undernourished, and disenfranchised citizens who repeatedly vote against their own interests.
—Vincent Mumba is a journalist, columnist, and writer based in Nairobi, focusing on politics, governance, and leadership.
