Singapore and Norway Were Not Built by Slogans: Ruto’s Vision 2060 Must Begin With Accountable Leadership

President William Ruto came to power in 2022 on the back of one of the most imaginative political narratives Kenya had heard in years: the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

He convinced the mama mboga, the boda boda rider, the small trader and millions of ordinary “hustlers” that their time had finally come. He sold a picture of a Kenya where the poor would access affordable credit, young people would study without crippling financial barriers, small traders would grow into successful entrepreneurs, affordable housing would transform the lives of slum dwellers, and universal healthcare would finally reach those who had historically been left behind.

It was a powerful political story.

But political slogans do not build developed countries.

From the Bottom-Up Dream to Vision 2060

Four years later, the government is asking Kenyans to embrace another grand national conversation—Vision 2060.

President Ruto launched the national dialogue on Kenya’s development beyond Vision 2030 at KICC on August 12, bringing together thousands of delegates and arguing that Kenya must plan beyond electoral cycles. The proposed Vision 2060 is intended to move the country towards greater prosperity, industrialisation and global competitiveness. (citizen.digital)

There is nothing wrong with Kenya dreaming big.

Indeed, Kenya must dream big.

But before we start talking about becoming another Singapore or reaching the economic standards of countries such as Norway, we must ask a harder question: what kind of leadership produced those societies?

Development is not achieved by changing the year on a PowerPoint presentation from 2030 to 2060. It is built through institutions, discipline, honesty, investment, accountability and respect for citizens.

Vision without those foundations is merely another political slogan.

Development Cannot Be Separated From Democracy.

The government cannot tell Kenyans that the country has somehow completed the democratic chapter and must now concentrate on economics.

There is no sustainable economic transformation without functioning democratic institutions.

Kenya’s own human-rights institutions documented serious abuses during and after the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported dozens of killings and abductions or enforced disappearances from June 2024, while Human Rights Watch documented cases involving protesters who were allegedly abducted, arbitrarily detained, tortured or killed. (knchr.org)

The 2024 protests were not a minor political inconvenience. They became the most serious political crisis of Ruto’s presidency at the time, forcing him to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill after nationwide youth-led demonstrations. (Reuters)

So how do we speak about becoming Singapore or Norway while young citizens fear that criticising government can attract intimidation, arrest or worse?

Economic development cannot be built on frightened citizens.

You cannot industrialise a nation while shrinking its democratic space.

What Norway Actually Teaches Us

I have experienced Norway over the course of roughly a decade, and when Kenyan politicians cite Norway as an example of what Kenya should become, they should understand what makes the country function.

Norway is not prosperous because its politicians became exceptionally talented at announcing visions.

Its strength lies significantly in institutions, public integrity, predictable government and a political culture in which citizens expect public officials to account for their conduct.

Transparency International’s latest index places Norway among the world’s strongest performers on perceived public-sector integrity, while OECD research has repeatedly identified integrity as a major factor behind trust in Norwegian public institutions. (Transparency.org)

Norway is not perfect. No country is. The OECD itself identifies areas where Norway’s anti-corruption framework can improve. (OECD)

But the broader lesson is straightforward: public institutions matter, honesty matters, accountability matters and citizens’ trust matters.

That is the part Kenyan politicians conveniently leave out when they praise Norway.

Senator Eddy Oketch Should Tell the Whole Norway Story

I listened to Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, a brilliant young politician, speak positively about Norway as an example Kenya should emulate.

He is right to admire Norway.

But he should tell Kenyans the entire story.

Senator Oketch is one of the brilliant young leaders who should be using his intellectual ability to challenge contradictions in government policy. Instead, he increasingly appears willing to use that brilliance to defend a regime whose political conduct often contradicts the development models it praises.

If you want Kenya to resemble Norway, then defend human rights.

Demand accountability.

Reject corruption regardless of who commits it.

Respect dissent.

Protect public money.

Strengthen institutions rather than political personalities.

And when leaders are accused of wrongdoing, the instinct should not always be to mobilise political tribes to defend them. Public office must carry an ethical burden.

That is what serious development politics looks like.

You Cannot Borrow Abroad and Splash Money at Political Rallies

Kenya’s relationship with international lenders also deserves greater honesty.

The previous IMF-supported programme was worth about $3.6 billion, and as recently as this week Kenya was preparing to discuss another programme with the Fund. (Reuters)

Borrowing itself is not the problem. Developing countries borrow to finance infrastructure, stabilise economies and make productive investments.

The question is what discipline accompanies that borrowing?

A President cannot preach fiscal discipline, seek international financial support and ask heavily taxed citizens to sacrifice, while the political culture around government appears awash with handouts and highly expensive political mobilisation.

You cannot borrow for development while cultivating politics in which money is splashed before cheering crowds as though public leadership were a permanent campaign rally.

Every shilling borrowed today will eventually be paid by Kenyan taxpayers.

If money is borrowed, invest it in productive capacity: industries, energy, infrastructure, technology, education and enterprises capable of employing young people for decades.

A handout may create applause for five minutes.

A factory creates jobs for generations.

Singapore Was Built, Not Announced

The fascination with Singapore is understandable.

But Singapore did not become Singapore because its leaders repeatedly told citizens they were travelling towards Singapore.

Transformation requires administrative competence, long-term planning, productive investment, disciplined institutions and serious consequences for corruption.

Kenya’s own Vision 2030 was designed to transform the country into a newly industrialising, middle-income economy with a high quality of life by 2030. (vision2030.go.ke)

We are now discussing Vision 2060 before Vision 2030 has even reached its finishing line.

That should itself provoke an honest national conversation.

What happened to the promises already made?

Which targets were achieved?

Which failed?

Why did they fail?

Who is accountable?

A country cannot develop through a permanent conveyor belt of visions in which unfinished promises are replaced by more distant promises.

Human Rights Are Not an Obstacle to Development

The idea that authoritarian methods are somehow necessary for development is one of the most dangerous political myths Kenya can import.

Consider the case of Ugandan opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye. He was abducted while in Kenya in November 2024 and forcibly returned to Uganda, according to the UN Human Rights Office. Reuters subsequently reported that Kenya opened an investigation into how that happened. (OHCHR)

That is not a political model Kenya should admire.

Kenya should not travel towards the authoritarian habits of its neighbours in the name of economic progress.

Our democracy is an economic asset.

Freedom of expression is an economic asset.

Independent institutions are an economic asset.

The rule of law is an economic asset.

Investors themselves want predictable laws, stable institutions and confidence that contracts and property rights will survive political change.

The Civilisation Kenya Needs Starts With Leadership

Becoming Singapore or Norway requires more than highways, skyscrapers and colourful economic presentations.

It requires a civilisation of political behaviour.

Leaders must understand that public money is not personal money.

Power is temporary.

The presidency is not an entitlement.

Opposition is not treason.

Criticism is not sabotage.

Citizens do not exist to praise government.

And a politician does not have to remain in power for Kenya to prosper.

A truly patriotic leader should be capable of contributing to the greatness of the country whether occupying State House or sitting at home as an ordinary citizen.

That is leadership.

Vision 2060 Must Start Today

President Ruto is correct about one thing: Kenya must think beyond the next election.

But Vision 2060 cannot begin in 2060.

It begins with what government does today.

It begins with how police treat demonstrators.

It begins with how government handles corruption allegations.

It begins with how borrowed money is spent.

It begins with whether Parliament independently represents citizens or merely responds to political instructions.

It begins with whether young Kenyans can criticise their President without fearing disappearance.

It begins with whether leaders practise the economic discipline they demand from ordinary citizens.

Kenya should absolutely aspire to the prosperity of Singapore and countries such as Norway.

But Singapore and Norway were not built by slogans.

They were built by institutions, discipline, investment, accountability and generations of leadership choices.

If President Ruto wants Vision 2060 to be remembered as more than another political fantasy, then the journey cannot start with another speech at KICC.

It must start with accountable leadership.

Lekishon Laban
Editor-in-Chief, ICTV E-Press
Where Truth Confronts Power