Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has finally weighed in on the heated debate comparing Kenya’s development ambitions to those of Singapore.
President Ruto has repeatedly expressed his desire to transform Kenya into a fast-growing, first-world economy similar to Singapore.
As the country heads into 2026, the President recently stated that Kenya has already taken significant steps toward achieving that vision.
However, Gachagua strongly disagrees.
Breaking his silence on the matter, the former Deputy President dismissed the comparisons as misleading, arguing that Kenya is still grappling with deep-rooted social and economic challenges that make such claims premature.
“It is shocking that those in power speak loudly about first-world progress while 55 per cent of Kenyan children are multidimensionally poor, experiencing deprivation in at least three key areas of their well-being,” Gachagua said.
He went further to highlight regional disparities, pointing to alarming statistics from some of the country’s most marginalised counties.
“In fact, nine out of every ten children in Mandera, Turkana, Samburu, Wajir and Tana River face deprivation in three or more dimensions of their well-being,” he added.
Gachagua’s remarks have reignited debate over whether Kenya’s development narrative matches the reality on the ground.
While the government continues to project confidence in economic growth and global competitiveness, critics argue that widespread poverty, inequality, and struggling public services remain major obstacles.
As the Kenya and Singapore comparison continues to dominate the public space, the question remains: Is Kenya truly on the fast track to first-world status, or is the country still far from that goal?
