Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing critique of the government’s handling of worker welfare, accusing national leaders of turning a blind eye to the suffering of millions of Kenyan laborers.
In a strongly worded Labour Day statement on Thursday, Gachagua painted a bleak picture of the Kenyan worker’s reality marked by dwindling income, rising living costs, and what he called misplaced national priorities. He said that despite the passage of time, little has changed for the country’s workforce.
“As we mark the 60th Labour Day celebration, the story of the Kenyan worker is the same: unspeakable pain, anguish, and utter frustration. We know no Kenyan worker is happy, and to wish them such is only additional pain,” he said.
Gachagua emphasized that workers are bearing the brunt of economic strain, pointing to what he described as excessive payroll deductions that are further eroding already limited earnings. “Workers are earning less due to numerous unnecessary deductions, while the cost of living continues to rise,” he noted.
He also criticized current leadership for wasting public resources, accusing them of using state funds to mobilize crowds rather than investing in policies that could ease the burden on ordinary citizens. “It is unfortunate that leaders continue to misuse public funds by bribing Kenyans to attend public gatherings,” Gachagua said.
His remarks come at a time when frustrations are mounting over high inflation, stagnating wages, and increased statutory deductions that have left many Kenyan households stretched thin.
Gachagua’s message diverged sharply from traditional celebratory Labour Day speeches, instead casting the spotlight on the growing disconnect between political leadership and the realities faced by the country’s workforce.
