“Cartels Chased Away Singapore Investors!” – Mudavadi Claims
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has described how vested interests stymied the development of the Port of Mombasa, one of Kenya’s important facilities.
Mudavadi revealed that while serving as Finance Minister from 1993 to 1997, Kenya considered forming a cooperation with Singapore to build the Mombasa Port.
He stated that the goal at the time was to raise the country’s main port to the level of Singapore’s port, which he claims has one of the world’s top harbours.
Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi has revealed that a 1990's plan to modernize the Port of Mombasa with support from Singapore was blocked by powerful local cartels. While serving as Finance Minister, Mudavadi says Kenya aimed to elevate the port to world-class standards, but vested… pic.twitter.com/9GJkBZclgm
— Bizna Kenya (@biznakenya) December 24, 2025
“We were trying to get a partnership between the Port of Singapore and the Port of Mombasa because the Singapore people are extremely efficient in port management,” Mudavadi stated.
During an interview with journalist Alex Chamwada, the PCS claimed that he personally traveled to Singapore to arrange the contract.
According to Mudavadi, his journey paid off, and a Singaporean team agreed to travel to Kenya with the goal of enhancing the port’s infrastructure and efficiency.
“The Singapore ports are one of the most efficient ports globally. I went to Singapore, and I had time to negotiate with them. I came with those people to Kenya,” the CS revealed.
Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi: The Singapore ports are one of the most efficient ports globally. I went to Singapore, and I had time to negotiate with them. I came with those people to Kenya. When we brought these people to partner with the Port of Mombasa, the cartels in Mombasa who… pic.twitter.com/GXPcR7pFjK
— Bizna Kenya (@biznakenya) December 24, 2025
However, the Singaporeans’ decision to modernize the Port of Mombasa was vigorously opposed by what Mudavadi described as cartels, who he claimed benefited from unscrupulous operations at the port.
He revealed that the cartels repeatedly upset international investors, to the point where Singaporeans opted to leave the country, abandoning the multi-million shilling project.
“When we brought these people to partner with the Port of Mombasa, the cartels in Mombasa who did not want Mombasa to achieve international standards fought and chased away the team from Singapore and frustrated them,” he disclosed.
While reflecting on the situation, Mudavadi observed that the obstacles Kenyans face, particularly in infrastructure development, are mostly self-imposed.
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“Kenya will not grow if we continue as an inward-looking people,” the CS reiterated.
“We must get ourselves to see the examples, the developments and the best practices that are taking place in other countries.”
Singapore has gained traction in the last year as President William Ruto has emphasised the ‘Singapore Dream,’ a vision to transform Kenya from a third-world to a first-world economy.
Just this month, he initiated the Ksh5 trillion Infrastructure Fund to support that goal, amid sharp criticism from the opposition.
“Cartels Chased Away Singapore Investors!” – Mudavadi Claims
