NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow has cast doubt on President William Ruto’s ambition to transform Kenya into a “first-world” economy, arguing that the Kenya Kwanza administration’s approach is rushed, poorly sequenced, and undermined by unresolved integrity challenges in public service.
Speaking in an interview, Kerrow said the government’s tendency to move quickly on major reforms without laying a solid policy and legal foundation risks derailing even well-intentioned development plans.
“One of the major weaknesses with this administration is the hurry; they always seem to be in a hurry,” Kerrow said. “Something like this would have been preceded by a policy framework, then you go to the legislative aspect of it.”
His remarks come amid President Ruto’s renewed push for what he has termed Kenya’s economic “transformation,” including large-scale infrastructure projects, new financing vehicles such as the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund and National Infrastructure Fund, and an overarching goal of elevating Kenya to first-world status.
Kerrow warned that bypassing established governance processes in the name of speed could weaken accountability and expose public resources to misuse.
“Unless you deal with the issue of integrity in public service, you can’t succeed,” he said, adding that corruption and weak oversight remain major obstacles to sustainable development.
The former senator argued that successful economic transformation requires deliberate planning, strong institutions, and respect for constitutional and legislative processes, rather than ad hoc implementation driven by political urgency.
President Ruto has repeatedly defended his approach, insisting that Kenya cannot afford delays if it is to create jobs, grow the economy, and compete with developed nations such as Singapore, which he frequently cites as a model.
However, critics like Kerrow say comparisons with highly developed economies overlook the institutional discipline and governance standards that underpin their success.
“Development is not just about announcements and speed,” Kerrow said. “It is about systems, integrity, and doing things in the right order.”
The debate over Kenya’s development trajectory is expected to intensify as the government rolls out new economic instruments and seeks parliamentary approval for key reforms in the coming months, testing whether the administration can balance urgency with due process and public accountability.
