Veteran journalist Eric Latiff has accused president William Ruto of quietly shifting from the "Hustler" narrative to a Singapore-style, top down national development model that prioritizes grand economic visions over everyday struggles of the ordinary Kenyans.
Speaking during a political analysis segment on NTV on Tuesday December 9, Latiff argued that the President's recent speeches and policy directions revealed a leader who had abandoned his people and the core manifesto that had citizens electing him for presidency in 2022.
According to him, President Ruto now speaks more about transforming Kenya into a prosperous, globally competitive nation than addressing the daily economic pain felt by small traders, boda boda operators, and low-income earners who expected targeted relief.
“If I look back at what Ruto was doing in 2020 to 2022 when he launched the bottom-up campaign messaging, and what I look at what Ruto is doing in 2025 ahead of 2027, I see another campaign messaging. So, the whole idea of saying that we are now moving towards Singapore, I say miss me with that,” Latiff stated.
Latiff pointed out that the administration’s new tone, calling for patience, national discipline, strict economic reforms, and long-term investments, mirrors Singapore’s development philosophy, a model known for rapid industrialization driven by strong central authority and top-down decision-making.
He questioned why the President no longer mentions the Bottom-Up agenda with the same passion, yet the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on millions.
“You cannot convince the hustlers to hold on for 10 years while their livelihoods are collapsing today,” Latiff argued, adding that the shift feels like a betrayal to voters who believed their needs would take priority.
He further noted that policies such as increased taxation, reduced subsidies, and higher compliance enforcement contradict the promise of empowering those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
Latiff’s remarks add to growing criticism from sections of the public who feel the government’s economic direction has become too abstract, elite-driven, and disconnected from the daily challenges facing ordinary Kenyans.
President Ruto’s Singapore dream is aimed at shifting Kenya from a net importer to a net exporter of goods, with a particular focus on increasing agricultural production through extensive irrigation to ensure both food security and export potential.
The plan includes developing world-class seaports, airports, and highways, including dualling 28,000 km of roads, as well as creating digital corridors designed to lower the cost of doing business and reinforce Kenya’s position as the region’s economic hub.
The agenda further emphasizes reforming the education system and scaling up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses to develop a skilled workforce capable of supporting the country’s industrial and technological growth.
In his concluding statement, Latiff questioned whether the bottom up model had been quietly shelved in favour of a long-term Singapore-style transformation.
KTN News anchor and Spice FM presenter Eric Latiff.
