NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya is studying Singapore’s foreign policy model as part of President William Ruto’s push to accelerate the country’s transformation into a first-world economy, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has said.
In a policy reflection, Sing’Oei said the President’s economic vision is anchored on strong institutions, high-quality human capital and the efficient deployment of national resources, with diplomacy playing a central—yet often underestimated—role in national development.
He said the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs will, in the coming year, deepen its assessment of Singapore’s foreign policy framework to better align Kenya’s diplomatic engagements with the government’s economic transformation agenda.
“The pillars that underpinned Singapore’s rise from a small developing state to a global economic hub offer valuable lessons for Kenya,” Sing’Oei said, adding that deliberate, well-coordinated diplomacy can create the stability and partnerships required for sustained growth.
Singapore’s ascent, he noted, demonstrates how foreign policy—when aligned with economic and security priorities—can support long-term development.
A key element of that strategy has been Singapore’s investment in regional stability through its leadership role within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
By positioning itself as a neutral convener and trusted mediator, Singapore has hosted major international engagements, including the historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump.
Sing’Oei said such diplomacy helped reduce regional tensions and secure prolonged periods of stability, a prerequisite for economic growth.
Drawing parallels, the PS said Kenya’s stability and prosperity are similarly tied to regional integration and peaceful coexistence, reflected in its active engagement within the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), Comesa and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
“Like Singapore, Kenya has sought to act as a bridge between diverse actors, promoting dialogue and cooperation in regions often marked by geopolitical friction,” he said.
Sing’Oei also highlighted Singapore’s pragmatic and agile diplomacy, particularly its ability to maintain strong relations with competing global powers while preserving strategic autonomy.
Despite intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, Singapore has sustained deep economic and security ties with both.
He said Kenya’s diplomatic posture mirrors this approach, with Nairobi maintaining close security cooperation with Washington while deepening economic engagement with Beijing, including through China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
President Ruto, he noted, held engagements with both capitals last year, guided by national interest rather than allegiance to any single global power.
On multilateralism, Sing’Oei said Kenya and Singapore share a commitment to a rules-based international order anchored in the UN Charter.
Both countries have served on the UN Security Council and contributed to peacekeeping missions, including cooperation under the UN Mission in East Timor in 1999.
However, he acknowledged that Singapore has been more deliberate in deploying diplomacy to advance economic interests.
From independence, Singapore positioned itself as a global financial hub, supported by strong regulatory institutions and state investment vehicles such as the Government Investment Corporation (GIC), which helped finance development and reduce reliance on external debt.
Kenya, he said, has made progress in economic diplomacy through trade frameworks with the European Union, China, the United States under AGOA, and African partners through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Still, he cautioned that stronger institutional coordination is needed to ensure such agreements deliver tangible national benefits.
The government’s Singapore-inspired agenda has, however, drawn criticism from the United Opposition, which says the narrative risks masking the administration’s failure to address the high cost of living and other pressing economic challenges.
