A year after deadly protests, Kenyan economy remains under strain. Roughly 40% of Kenyans live in poverty, struggling with high living costs, limited job opportunities, and corruption.
Christine Naswa, a 40-year-old roadside vendor and mother of five, expressed frustration with the economic situation. “The economy is very poor right now. There is no money in Kenya… I do not manage to even feed my children, the costs of living are high, and my profit is low,” she said.
Kenya’s economy, despite being a bright spot in the region, faces significant challenges. The country is heavily indebted to foreign lenders, paying more in interest on borrowings than on health and education. Taxes are already high, with most of the burden falling on the small formal sector.
A shopkeeper in Nairobi’s commercial district echoed Naswa’s sentiments. “This year has been the toughest of all our 36-year history… As soon as the new government got elected, within the first months, they just started increasing taxes,” he said, adding that he saw no benefits.
Analysts attribute the public’s disillusionment to President William Ruto’s policies. “There’s a huge amount of distrust and disillusionment with Ruto’s administration,” said Patricia Rodrigues of Control Risks. “He came to power promising so much — a better life for the ordinary citizen — and instead… decided to increase taxes, and that was felt as a huge betrayal.”
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) argues that Kenya has no choice but to boost taxes to meet the needs of its growing population. However, experts warn that the limit of tax tolerance has been reached. “We are at the limit of how much tax Kenyans are willing to bear,” said Kwame Owino of the Institute for Economic Affairs.
Some attribute Kenya’s problems to deeply entrenched corruption. “The idea you can raise taxes to cover government inefficiencies and pay for debts that many Kenyans don’t believe were well-used — that idea is gone,” Owino added.
As Kenyans look to the future, some hope for change after the 2027 elections. However, one shopkeeper’s sentiment was stark: “Kenyans will always elect thieves.”