Former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria openly acknowledged the financial hardship facing millions of Kenyans, stating that economic pressure has become a shared national reality. Speaking during a televised interview on Sunday, December 28, 2025, Kuria said the extent of financial struggle across the country can no longer be disputed, even though opinions may differ on its causes.
“Kenyans are broke; there is no doubt about it. As to what has made them broke, we will have different explanations,” he stated.
Kuria’s remarks come at a time when rising living costs, stagnant incomes, and public frustration continue to dominate conversations both online and offline. His comments stood out for their bluntness, cutting through political language to address what many households are experiencing daily. He emphasized that acknowledging the hardship is a necessary starting point, even if agreement on responsibility remains elusive.
Drawing from his role in government, Kuria reflected on the first three years of the current administration. He noted that he was part of the team responsible for crafting the Kenya Kwanza economic plan and manifesto ahead of the transition from the previous government. According to him, this responsibility came with unique challenges that the public may not fully appreciate.
“What I can say is that looking back at the last three years of the current government, because I was part of the team that prepared the plan/manifesto for the Kenya Kwanza government, especially the team that helped the president to take over from the previous administration, it’s a thankless job because the realities of the economy as it was then may not be vbisible to so many people,” he said.
Kuria explained that many of the economic conditions inherited by the administration were complex and largely hidden from public view. While citizens feel the effects through higher prices and reduced purchasing power, the structural issues behind those outcomes are often less visible.
Why government actions may feel invisible to citizens
According to Kuria, part of the disconnect between government policy and public perception lies in how economic concepts are understood at the grassroots level. He argued that technical achievements, while significant, do not always translate into tangible experiences for ordinary people.
“If you go to the streets of Murang’a or Kakamega and talk to people about inflation, do they even know what that is? If you tell them that Kenya was on the brink of defaulting on its debt within six months, they may not know because we have always paid our debts. The prospect of default was not something people were familiar with.”
He suggested that preventing a potential debt default was one of the administration’s most critical priorities, even though it did not produce immediate relief for households. In his view, stabilizing the economy required difficult decisions that were largely unseen by the public but necessary to avoid deeper long-term damage.
Kuria maintained that these measures, while essential, were never going to be easily communicated or widely understood. He stressed that economic stabilization often involves behind-the-scenes decisions that do not immediately change daily life for most citizens.
“There are issues that are too complicated for the common mwananchi, So, the positive things that have happened within this administration may not be visible to the anked eye. There are issues that are too complicated for the common mwananchi,” he added.
His comments highlight a broader challenge facing policymakers, which is bridging the gap between macroeconomic management and everyday reality. While government officials may focus on indicators such as debt sustainability and inflation control, citizens tend to judge success by food prices, transport costs, and job opportunities.
As economic pressure continues to shape public mood, Kuria’s remarks reflect a rare moment of alignment between political acknowledgment and public sentiment. His statements underline a growing consensus that while debates over policy will continue, the financial strain on Kenyans is real, widespread, and demands honest engagement.
By Lucky Anyanje