NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto’s administration of worsening the economic pressure facing Kenyan households four years after taking office.
Gachagua made the claims on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during a detailed performance audit in which he compared the government’s 2022 election promises with what he described as its record in office.
The DCP leader said the Kenya Kwanza administration had promised to put more money in the pockets of ordinary Kenyans but had instead introduced measures that had reduced household disposable income.
He singled out taxation, fuel prices, statutory deductions and the cost of basic commodities as major contributors to the economic pressure.
According to Gachagua, Super Petrol had risen from KSh159.12 per litre on August 8, 2022, to KSh214.03, while diesel had increased from KSh140 to KSh222.86.
He argued that the increases had affected the prices of transport, food and other essential goods.
Gachagua also claimed that the average Kenyan worker was losing a significant portion of monthly earnings through taxes and statutory deductions.
He used the example of a teacher earning KSh50,000, arguing that the worker’s take-home pay had declined compared with 2022 while the cost of living had risen.
“The Kenya Kwanza covenant to put money in people’s pockets is nothing but a pipe dream,” Gachagua said.
He called on the government to suspend the Affordable Housing levy, review PAYE bands and reconsider taxes and charges affecting petroleum products.
Debt concerns
Gachagua also attacked the government’s debt management record.
He claimed Kenya’s public debt had risen from KSh8.66 trillion in August 2022 to KSh13.02 trillion by August 2026.
According to his assessment, the government had borrowed more than KSh4 trillion during the four years of the Ruto presidency.
He argued that the scale of borrowing had not been matched by sufficient development outcomes.
Gachagua further claimed that every Kenyan, including children born into the country, effectively carried a significant share of the national debt.
He questioned the government’s borrowing strategy and alleged that debt had increasingly been used to finance government expenditure.
County funding
The former Deputy President also criticised delays in the disbursement of funds to county governments.
He claimed that delayed equitable-share transfers had affected county operations, including payment of salaries and settlement of pending bills.
Gachagua linked the situation to what he described as misplaced government priorities, citing the State House budget and spending on State Lodges and airstrips.
He argued that more resources should instead be directed towards county governments and programmes benefiting ordinary citizens.
Hustler Fund
The DCP leader also questioned the impact of the Hustler Fund, one of the flagship programmes introduced by the Ruto administration.
Gachagua acknowledged that the programme had disbursed billions of shillings but questioned whether the loans were sufficient to create sustainable enterprises.
He argued that some borrowers received amounts as low as KSh500, which he said could not meaningfully finance a business.
He also raised concerns over loan defaults and suggested that more resources should have been channelled through cooperatives.
Affordable housing
Gachagua further criticised the Affordable Housing Programme, arguing that the levy imposed on workers had increased pressure on already stretched household incomes.
He questioned the management and investment of funds collected under the programme and raised concerns about procurement and financial arrangements surrounding the housing scheme.
The DCP leader argued that participation in the housing programme should be voluntary rather than financed through mandatory deductions from workers.
Fuel and household costs
Gachagua linked the rising cost of fuel to the wider economic challenges facing households and businesses.
He criticised the government’s Government-to-Government fuel supply framework, which he has previously attacked, arguing that it had failed to deliver the promised reduction in fuel prices.
Gachagua said the government should review petroleum taxes and pricing structures as part of measures to reduce pressure on households.
He also called for reductions in government recurrent expenditure, arguing that savings could be redirected towards food production, water provision and support for vulnerable communities.
Gachagua concluded that the economic record of the administration should be judged against the promises made during the 2022 campaign.
He said Kenyans should assess whether the government’s policies had actually improved their disposable incomes and living standards before deciding whether to give Ruto another term in 2027.
