During President William Ruto’s recent visit to China, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba made a bold and emotional appeal that many Kenyans quietly relate to.
She asked the President to seek grants instead of more loans. “May our President Ruto find favour in China to get grants, not loans,” she said, highlighting the deep pain caused by the country’s growing debt.
Kenya now sits under a debt of over Ksh10 trillion, and for ordinary citizens, the effects are being felt in everyday life.Her statement was short but powerful.
It captured the frustration many Kenyans feel but rarely see expressed by leaders in government. While the official message of Ruto’s trip was focused on development and cooperation, Wamuchomba’s words brought attention back to the harsh reality on the ground—rising taxes, higher fuel prices, delayed public salaries, and a general feeling that things are getting worse, not better.
The government has been borrowing heavily over the years, promising that loans would lead to better infrastructure and stronger economic growth.
But for many, those promises haven’t matched their lived experiences. What people see are flashy projects that don’t always improve their lives, while the cost of living keeps going up.
Services like healthcare and education are struggling. Families are forced to make tough decisions, and job opportunities are getting harder to come by.
Wamuchomba’s remarks also revealed tension within the ruling party itself. It’s not common to see such honesty from within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), especially during an international engagement. But her words reflect a breaking point. People are tired.
They want solutions that bring real relief, not more financial burdens passed on to future generations.
China has played a major role in financing Kenya’s big projects, especially in transport and energy. But the loans have come at a price, and there are growing concerns about how sustainable this borrowing is.
The lack of transparency in some of these deals only adds to public suspicion.Wamuchomba didn’t speak as a politician trying to score points. She spoke like a Kenyan who sees her people struggling every day.
Her message is one that needs to be heard not just in China, but back home at State House. It’s a reminder that development without care for the people is not progress. It’s just more debt.
Leave feedback about this