TAITA TAVETA, Kenya – Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has exonerated former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration from blame over Kenya’s current economic struggles, attributing the challenges to the global Covid-19 pandemic and its aftershocks.
Speaking during a meeting with political and grassroots leaders from Taita Taveta County on Thursday, Kindiki emphasized that the hardships inherited by the Kenya Kwanza administration were not due to mismanagement by the previous regime but rather the unavoidable economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.
“When we say the economic situation was bad when President William Ruto took over, many people think we are blaming the previous administration. That is not true,” Kindiki clarified.
He acknowledged that Uhuru’s government had prioritized saving lives during the pandemic, directing most state resources toward mitigating the crisis.
“At the point when President Uhuru was leaving, we had just come out of one of the biggest pandemics in the history of mankind called Covid-19,” Kindiki said. “For a whole one and a half years, the economy was shut down—nobody was working, people were staying at home, there was no productivity, and all the resources of the country were diverted to save our lives.”
Kindiki added that the economic fallout from the pandemic, compounded by other global factors, left Kenya grappling with high inflation, a weak currency, and soaring interest rates when Ruto assumed office.
The Deputy President praised President Ruto’s administration for addressing these foundational economic challenges within two years, noting that previous administrations took longer to stabilize similar crises.
“President Ruto has used only two years to address foundational problems. What remains now is microeconomic growth—incomes, revitalizing key sectors like agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and mining, and creating jobs,” Kindiki said.
He drew comparisons with past leaderships, pointing out that both Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta needed at least five years to stabilize macroeconomic issues during their tenures.
Kindiki’s remarks come amid public debate over the root causes of the country’s economic difficulties.
His statements appeared aimed at reassuring Kenyans that the Kenya Kwanza administration is making significant strides toward economic recovery while dispelling the perception of blame directed at the previous regime.
Kindiki reiterated that the administration’s focus now shifts to improving livelihoods through strategic investments in agriculture, mining, and fisheries, while creating employment opportunities to uplift millions of Kenyans.
