Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sharply criticised the state of Kenya’s economy, saying workers marked this year’s Labour Day “in pain and disrespect” amid rising taxes and shrinking incomes.
In a strongly worded statement, Gachagua said Kenyan workers are bearing the brunt of a struggling economy, describing them as “overworked, overtaxed and underpaid.”
“Today, workers in Kenya gather in pain and disrespect; they stand at the intersection of a mutilated payslip and a dwindling economy,” he said.
While Labour Day is globally observed as a moment of recognition and solidarity for workers, the former Deputy President argued that the occasion has lost meaning locally due to worsening economic conditions.
“To the Kenyan worker, today I stand with you in struggle, recognition and solidarity,” he said, positioning himself alongside workers in their grievances.
Gachagua linked the concerns of workers to the country’s political future, framing the 2027 General Election as a turning point.
“We started a journey to liberate your payslip and give you dignity in the end. The cause is on and your future stands on trial on August 10, 2027,” he said.
He added: “We must get back better our worker. Besides, I know there is nothing to celebrate today.”
However, President William Samoei Ruto struck a different tone during the national Labour Day celebrations held in Vihiga County, where he announced a raft of measures aimed at easing pressure on workers.
“In recognition of the sacrifice, resilience, and immense contribution of our workers to the growth and stability of our economy, I am pleased to announce a 12 per cent increase in general wages and a 15 per cent increase in agricultural wages,” President Ruto said.
He also announced a reduction in the deposit required to access affordable housing units from 10 per cent to five per cent, saying the move is intended to make home ownership more accessible to salaried Kenyans.
On healthcare, the President said the government had begun reforms to the Social Health Authority, including the removal of tariff mechanisms that had limited access to services.
“Accordingly, we have withdrawn restrictive tariff mechanisms that have caused unintended challenges, including the temporary outpatient caps,” he said.
Political tone
The contrasting Labour Day messages from Gachagua and President Ruto highlight the deepening political divide between the two leaders, once allies at the helm of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
While Gachagua framed the day as a moment of hardship and political reckoning, President Ruto used the platform to outline policy interventions and position his administration as responsive to workers’ needs.
The divergence underscores an emerging battle for the support of workers and low-income earners, a critical voting bloc, as early political alignments for the 2027 General Election begin to take shape.
Background
Gachagua’s remarks come months after his dramatic fallout with President Ruto, which culminated in his impeachment from office in late 2024. Lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct and insubordination, charges he has consistently denied, arguing that his removal was politically motivated.
Since his ouster, the former Deputy President has repositioned himself as a vocal critic of the government, particularly on economic issues affecting ordinary Kenyans. He has repeatedly accused the administration of overburdening workers through increased taxation and failing to cushion households from rising living costs.
His Labour Day statement builds on his recent messaging that centres on “liberating the payslip,” a phrase he has used to criticise statutory deductions and government levies that have reduced take-home pay.
On the other hand, President Ruto’s Labour Day announcements form part of a broader policy and political push centred on wages, housing and healthcare, areas his administration has prioritised even as it faces criticism over the cost of living.
Labour Day, marked annually on May 1, is traditionally a platform for governments and unions to outline policies on wages, labour rights and social protection, but it has increasingly become a stage for political contestation over the direction of the economy and the welfare of workers.
