Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has intensified his engagement with labour and economic issues ahead of the 2027 General Election following a high-level meeting with former Public Service Remuneration Authority (PSRA) boss Fazul Mahamed in Nairobi.
The two leaders met at Fazul’s Nairobi office where they held talks centred on the state of the economy, rising taxation, workers’ welfare and the growing pressure on Kenyan households amid the high cost of living.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, Gachagua and Fazul agreed to embark on a nationwide sensitisation campaign targeting salaried workers and ordinary taxpayers whom they said have been heavily burdened by increased taxation in recent years.
The leaders said Kenyan workers, especially salaried employees whose monthly payslips have faced multiple statutory deductions, should use the 2027 General Election as a referendum on economic policies affecting workers and household incomes.
They argued that more than 3.5 million formal sector workers have seen their earnings significantly reduced by what they termed as excessive taxation, including deductions linked to housing, health insurance and pension contributions introduced or expanded under President William Ruto’s administration.
“The welfare of Kenyan workers must become a central political issue ahead of the next election,” the statement said, adding that employees should have an opportunity to determine the future direction of the country’s economic policies through the ballot.
The meeting comes only days after Gachagua and Fazul jointly launched the 2026 Workers Welfare Report and Labour Market Survey Report at the Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill.
The report reportedly examined the impact of inflation, taxation and unemployment on Kenyan workers, while also assessing labour conditions in both the formal and informal sectors.
Their latest engagement signals a growing effort by opposition-allied figures to position workers’ welfare and economic hardship at the centre of national political debate as the country edges closer to the 2027 campaigns.
In recent years, Kenya has witnessed mounting public concern over the rising cost of living driven by higher fuel prices, increased electricity costs, new taxes and a weakening purchasing power among households.
President William Ruto’s administration has defended the tax measures as necessary to stabilize the economy, reduce debt dependency and fund government programmes. However, critics argue that the tax burden has disproportionately affected ordinary Kenyans already struggling with stagnant wages and inflation.
Among the most contested measures have been the Housing Levy, revised National Social Security Fund (NSSF) deductions and changes to health insurance contributions, all of which have significantly reduced take-home pay for many workers.
The opposition has repeatedly accused the government of overburdening taxpayers while failing to address unemployment and the rising cost of basic commodities.
Gachagua and Fazul also raised concerns over the state of Kenya’s informal sector, which accounts for the largest share of employment in the country.
Citing data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Economic Survey, the two leaders noted that over 86 per cent of Kenyan workers operate within the informal sector, where many face poor working conditions, low pay and limited social protection.
They said informal workers remain vulnerable to inflation, arbitrary levies and economic shocks despite playing a critical role in sustaining the country’s economy.
The leaders pledged to push for policies aimed at protecting low-income earners and cushioning workers against the effects of inflation and increased taxation.
Analysts say labour and economic concerns are likely to dominate political conversations over the next two years as political formations begin positioning themselves ahead of the next election cycle.
Gachagua, who has recently stepped up his political activities following his fallout with the Kenya Kwanza administration, has increasingly sought to align himself with issues affecting ordinary wananchi, particularly those linked to economic hardship and governance.
His engagements with labour-related stakeholders are expected to further shape the emerging opposition narrative focused on taxation, unemployment and cost-of-living pressures.
The renewed focus on workers’ welfare also comes at a time when trade unions and civil society groups have continued to call for better labour protections, fair wages and reduced tax pressure on employees and small businesses.
With economic frustrations continuing to dominate public discourse, political leaders are expected to increasingly use workers’ concerns as a key campaign issue heading into 2027.
