Irony as First Lady Rachel Ruto assert country’s improving economy as majority languish in poverty
Her remarks are at odds with the views of most Kenyans who participated in TIFA’s survey report released last week ago that shows majority of people across all nine regions of Kenya say their personal or family economic situation has worsened since the last election
First Lady Rachel Ruto has said that “God is blessing” the nation and that the country’s economy is growing, a sharp contradiction to the recent survey by TIFA Research, a pollster, that showed majority of Kenyans reported worsening economic conditions since last election in August 2022.
The First Lady made the remarks while officiating an African Inland Church (AIC) Women’s Conference at Kasarani Nairobi,
Rachel Ruto said different sectors of county economy were recording good growth and that Kenya’s economy is on a positive trajectory and better times are beckoning,
“God is blessing our nation. Kenya’s economy is growing, agriculture is strong, housing and jobs are expanding and healthcare is reaching millions,” she said.
“Our young people are excelling in sports and beyond. Truly, as we honor God, He continues to lift up our nation, let us make the most of every opportunity in prayers and in service,” she added.
Her remarks are at odds with the views of most Kenyans who participated in TIFA’s survey report released last week ago that shows majority of people across all nine regions of Kenya say their personal or family economic situation has worsened since the last election.
The survey revealed that residents from the Mount Kenya region feel the sharpest economic pain since President William Ruto assumed office in September 2022, underscoring the country’s deepening economic divide.
According to the poll, released on Thursday, September 11, 2025, by the Nairobi-based research firm Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA), an overwhelming 85 per cent of respondents in the Mt Kenya region said their personal and family economic situations have worsened over the past three years.
While economic dissatisfaction was widespread across Kenya, the survey showed striking regional disparities.
In Nairobi, 74 per cent of residents reported deteriorating financial conditions, while in Northern Kenya only 41 per cent expressed such views — the lowest nationwide.
Conversely, 31 per cent of Northern residents said their lives had improved, more than double the proportion in Central Rift and Lower Eastern (14 per cent) and 10 times higher than in Mt Kenya, where just 3 per cent reported any improvement.
“While robust majorities across all of Kenya’s nine zones report their personal and family economic situation as having worsened since the last election, such negative figures are highest in Mt Kenya and Nairobi,” TIFA noted in its report.
The survey suggested that Northern Kenya’s relatively stronger showing may be linked to its lower integration into the mainstream economy and reliance on livestock markets, which have remained comparatively stable.
The findings come amid persistent public discontent over rising costs of living, unemployment, and a faltering shilling.
Though the Ruto administration has defended its fiscal reforms as necessary to stabilise the economy, critics say austerity policies have disproportionately hurt households.
TIFA also compared its latest results with a May 2025 survey.
Nationally, the proportion of Kenyans who said their economic situation had worsened declined slightly, from 75 per cent to 70 per cent. Those reporting improvements, however, held steady at just 10 per cent.
The First Lady acknowledged the role of women in shaping the country’s future.
“In the same way, my sisters, we too are called to seize the opportunities God has placed in our lives today. Whether as mothers raising our children, as businesswomen in our communities, or as leaders serving with vision and courage,” she noted.
The First lady recognised the AIC church for actively participating in shaping Kenya future.
“It is truly inspiring to stand before more than a thousand women leaders of faith; a living testimony to the strength of a community that, for over 130 years, has defined the Africa Inland Church. What a joy it is to join you in fellowship today at the AIC Women’s Conference here in Kasarani,”she added.
From its humble beginnings in 1895, AIC has grown into thousands of congregations nationwide.
Beyond spirituality, it has been a pillar of nation-building; establishing schools, hospitals, and community programs that continue to transform lives across our country.
The first lady said President William Ruto was fully behind the church and promised to support construction of a modern facility at Kasarani.
