Ruto: I will ensure Kenya catches up with Singapore
President William Ruto has once again expressed his strong commitment to transforming Kenya’s housing sector and tackling urban poverty, promising to go out of his way to ensure the country catches up with rapidly developed nations like Singapore.
Speaking during his recent address to the media on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Ruto drew a direct comparison between Kenya and Singapore, noting that the Southeast Asian nation was at a similar development level to Kenya six decades ago but has since leapfrogged into global economic prominence.
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“This housing, we must do it,” Ruto emphasised, underlining the urgency of his government’s affordable housing agenda. “Imagine Singapore was like Kenya 60 years ago. Today in Singapore, 95 per cent of the people are homeowners. In Kenya, it is the opposite.
“Seven million people are living in slums, but we are going to change this country. Believe you me, we have what it takes as a nation. There is no reason why we cannot catch up with Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. There is no reason. And I am going to go out of my way to make sure we catch up with Singapore.”
Cornerstone of transformation
The Head of State placed housing at the centre of his development agenda, arguing that widespread home ownership will not only uplift the dignity of Kenyans but also anchor economic growth. By tackling the housing deficit and creating opportunities for ordinary citizens to own property, Ruto said his administration aims to reverse decades of urban inequality.
According to the President, affordable housing projects currently underway are more than just physical structures—they are a tool to address unemployment, stimulate investment, and lay the foundation for sustainable urban planning.
Lessons from Japan
Ruto’s bold remarks also echoed reflections from his recent state trip to Japan, where he praised the nation’s remarkable transformation. The President noted that Japan’s progress stemmed from vision, discipline, and ambition, qualities he believes Kenyans must embrace to achieve similar success.
“Every time I travel abroad, as I recently did to Japan, I am struck by what vision, discipline and high ambition can achieve,” Ruto shared in a message posted online. “I see their order, infrastructure, and prosperity, and I ask, why not Kenya? Why not us?”
For Ruto, catching up with Singapore and other Asian success stories is not just aspirational but achievable.
