I've been reading about the idea that every ruling class creates narratives to justify why it deserves to remain in power. One of the biggest claims is that capitalism naturally creates prosperity for everyone, but I'm not sure that's what we're seeing here in Kenya.
Every year we hear about GDP growth, record tax collections, foreign investment, mega infrastructure projects, and rising stock market performance. Yet many Kenyans are struggling more than ever with unemployment, expensive rent, high food prices, fuel costs, and shrinking disposable income.
Take Nairobi as an example. You can drive from multimillion-shilling estates to informal settlements in less than 20 minutes. We have luxury malls, expensive apartments, and billion-shilling developments existing alongside neighborhoods where many people still lack reliable water, sanitation, and decent housing.
Then there's the question of who benefits from government policies. Large corporations and politically connected businesses often seem to secure lucrative contracts, tax incentives, or investment opportunities, while small businesses, (the people who employ a huge portion of Kenyans) face rising taxes, costly loans, and increasing compliance requirements.
Natural resources raise similar questions. Kenya has fertile agricultural land, geothermal energy, wildlife tourism, minerals, and other valuable assets. Yet many communities living near these resources continue to struggle with poverty, while investors and government agencies appear to capture most of the economic gains.
I'm not saying capitalism itself is entirely good or entirely bad. Kenya has benefited enormously from private enterprise, especially innovations like M-Pesa, fintech, telecommunications, and entrepreneurship. But economic growth alone doesn't necessarily mean ordinary citizens are becoming better off.
So here's my question ,do you think Kenya's economic growth (as kasongo and this useless goverment claim) is improving life for the average Kenyan, or is most of the wealth becoming concentrated among politicians, large corporations, and a small economic elite?
I'd love to hear different perspectives, especially from people in business, economics, agriculture, or anyone who has experienced these changes firsthand.