Nyakera to govt: Kenyans don’t eat inflation figures
By Kiprono Keileb, February 3, 2026The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Nairobi Patron Irungu Nyakera, has challenged the government’s assertion that inflation is low, saying ordinary Kenyans continue to struggle with rising costs of living. He said the official figures fail to reflect the real pressure households face on food, transport, cooking gas, and electricity.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Nyakera highlighted that non-core inflation, which affects everyday expenses, is significantly higher than the figures touted by government officials.
“Government mandarins keep saying inflation is low at 4.5%, but they fail to mention that non-core inflation is at 10.3%. Most households live hand to mouth, and non-core inflation is the cost of food, transport, cooking gas, and electricity. That is the inflation people actually feel. When non-core inflation is high, households are paying more just to survive,” Nyakera wrote.
He further explained why low core inflation does not translate into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens.
“Some will then ask why the economy feels weak when core inflation is only 2.2%. Low core inflation means the economy is slowing. It means people are spending less because incomes are under pressure and money is no longer circulating,” the statement reads.
Nyakera warned that relying on official statistics without considering real-life impact can mislead policymakers and the public.
“So when mandarins tell us inflation is low, they should remember that we do not cook or eat inflation. They should simply fix the economy for people to earn and spend,” part of Nyakera’s statement reads.
He called for urgent measures to ease the financial burden on households, noting that failing to address non-core inflation could worsen economic hardship for many Kenyans.
Nyakera urged the government to focus on policies that directly improve household incomes and stabilise prices, rather than relying on figures that do not capture the full picture of citizens’ financial reality.