Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sounded alarm bells over Kenya’s economic state, urging citizens to pursue change through democratic means. Speaking during a church event in the United States on July 14, 2025, Gachagua painted a bleak picture of the nation’s economy, highlighting a surge in the cost of living, mounting public debt, and stagnation in key sectors.
He dismissed official statistics on economic growth and inflation, instead advocating for a people-centered approach to measuring performance. “If you want to know how the economy is performing in Kenya, forget about figures like 5.6% growth or 3% inflation. Ask the people,” he said. “What they used to buy for Sh10,000 three years ago now costs Sh30,000.”
Gachagua claimed that Kenya’s debt levels are now unsustainable, with little liquidity in circulation and a ballooning burden of unpaid government bills. He emphasized that many Kenyans are struggling to meet basic needs as prices of essential goods continue to soar.
Criticizing the current administration’s handling of education, Gachagua contrasted the present situation with that of former President Mwai Kibaki’s era. “Mwai Kibaki gave us free education, but today many students are out of school,” he stated, suggesting that the new education system is failing to deliver.
He also questioned the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority, terming it an expensive and poorly managed change. “We had a functioning system, and now we are experimenting with people’s lives,” he added.
On civil liberties, Gachagua expressed concern over comments made by leaders regarding the handling of protests, cautioning against the erosion of democratic rights. “There have been comments from leaders suggesting excessive force, which is worrying in a democracy,” he said.
In conclusion, Gachagua called for peaceful, constitutional change, urging citizens to use the ballot in the 2027 general election to chart a new course for the country. “Nobody wants unconstitutional change or to overthrow the government. We want change through the ballot, come August 10, 2027,” he affirmed.
