Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has issued a stark warning that Kenya is sitting on a powder keg, driven by rising unemployment, runaway corruption, and an elite culture of opulence that alienates ordinary citizens.
Speaking on Wednesday, Tuju said the growing gap between the rich and the poor threatens to destabilize the country if the political class does not urgently change course.
Unemployment Ticking Time Bomb
Tuju pointed to the millions of young Kenyans graduating from universities with no jobs waiting for them, calling it a crisis that successive administrations have failed to address.
“When you have a population where the majority are young, educated, and unemployed, that is a recipe for serious social upheaval,” he said. “We cannot keep pretending that everything is fine when our youth are desperate.”
Kenya’s unemployment rate among youth remains one of the highest in East Africa, with estimates suggesting that over 5 million young Kenyans are actively looking for work.
Corruption and Opulence Under Fire
Tuju did not hold back in his criticism of what he described as a political culture that celebrates wealth accumulation while ordinary Kenyans struggle to put food on the table.
He warned that the flashy lifestyles displayed by some politicians and government officials are stoking resentment among a population grappling with high taxes and a rising cost of living.
“The opulence we see from people in public office is not just insensitive — it is dangerous,” Tuju said. “When leaders display wealth that cannot be explained by their known income, they erode public trust and fuel anger.”
Call for Urgent Action
Tuju urged both the ruling administration and the opposition to prioritize policies that create jobs, fight corruption, and reduce economic inequality before the situation spirals out of control.
His warning comes amid growing public frustration over the cost of living, recent fuel shortages, and a private sector that has shown signs of contraction for two consecutive months.
Political analysts say Tuju’s remarks reflect a broader anxiety among senior statesmen who have watched Kenya’s economic pressures intensify since 2023, with no clear relief in sight for ordinary households.
