Kenya's growth path and how Singapore dared to develop

Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Hotel at dusk. [iStockphoto]

Should we talk of Singapore? My answer is yes. We should be passionate about being like Singapore, otherwise, what do we want to do in future?

The conversation about our next development model and the case study of Singapore is coming at the right time where Vision 2030 is coming to an end. Without a dream life becomes meaningless and business as usual.  

The debate about Singapore is always marked by two paradoxes and sides. On one side, there are cynics who have laughed at the idea of Singapore as another misuse of words and an unrealistic dream. They have pointed out various challenges in Kenya, like endemic corruption, police brutality, poverty and unemployment.

They have also pointed at SHA and Housing as to why the government cannot be trusted with leading Kenya to Singapore. One common trait of the cynics is that they are already middle-class and enjoy the comfort of life only available in the first world. 

There is another group that has received the Singapore dream with much enthusiasm. This group has pointed out at the current bold projects by the government as the reason for their optimism. They do not see things as they are but rather as they should be, that Kenya can indeed transform. This group points at mega projects like Rironi road, SGR reaching Kisumu and Malaba, the expansion of airports, expansion of local markets and affordable housing as an indication of a great future. 

Since the President invoked the issue of Singapore, I have engaged various Kenyan professionals, from historians, economists, to teachers of law and development. It is clear that Kenya's development models and plans have so far been diverse. The first development plan was the 1965 Sessional Paper 10.

The policy emphasizes Africa socialism and offered a broad guideline on development. The paper emphasized the idea of a new nation and state-led investment in areas like agriculture that replaced the colonial dominance. Of course, the plan was hijacked by a few leaders to grab land and now we have huge idle land.

Later, we had the Vision 2030 that emphasised making Kenya middle class by expanding private investment and leveraging on human and capital to move Kenya ahead in globalisation and technology. 

The conversation on Singapore is therefore critical as a nation. While it is true that Kenya cannot directly follow the Singapore model, there are a few things it can learn. Singapore had a small population, authoritarian leadership and a highly centralised state.

Kenya is politically driven, has devolution, a liberal 2010 constitution and a governance that is not disciplined. However, just like Singapore, which defied the pseudo-economic development model and developed a hybrid model, Kenya has the BETA Plan.

Kenya can continue with its infrastructural development, continue building on human capital and focus on areas like agriculture, where it can have great export to supplement the dollar in trade. If one considers the Beta plan areas like universal heath, technology, agriculture expansion, expansion of the small medium enterprises and strategic infrastructure, Kenya can develop into the first world.

Indeed, every generation has its generational call that they must either honor or betray. Kenya's mission must always be to find means of expanding the economy and making the lives of Kenyans better. Still, the government should keenly listen to the cynical and develop a solid pan on how to overcome the policy resistance.

-The writer is an advisor to the President on justice and human rights