Political analyst Peter Kagwanja has pointed to the government’s failures as the major cause of increased poverty and crime.

Kagwanja has said that the government seems to be driving Kenyans into further economic misery rather than salvaging the situation.

Speaking on a local radio station on Monday, February 23, 2026, Kagwanja said the leadership of the country has not enacted policies that would make a significant difference in the lives of ordinary citizens, as millions continue to grapple with life, as headline GDP numbers give a misleading impression of a nation booming.

“The people have become more criminal-oriented because of the economy. There is no economic issue in Kenya, but rather a governance crisis,” Kagwanja said.

According to the analyst, most of the Kenyans are still struggling with inflation, falling purchasing power, and little hope in the job market, despite the claims of steady increase. Kagwanja has observed that this is merely an economic pretence and yet a structural flaw: a regime that is more related to political patronage and elite enrichment rather than actual industrialisation, addition of value and equal opportunity.

The rest of the ordinary citizens, young people, especially in the informal sectors, are left to figure out another economy that appears to be stacked against them. The aftermath of this irresponsibility is not confined to the wallets being empty.

 The economic stagnation is literally incubating the criminality, as Kagwanja has warned that this has caused many to be left susceptible to illegal acts in an attempt to raise social safety nets or to access employment, and this has been a cycle of poverty and crime. Governments appear powerless or even incompetent to act as syndicated crime cartels are flourishing, exploiting weaknesses in enforcement procedures and enjoying the lax nature of governance.

 Kagwanja has further accused the current administration of becoming characterised by corruption, mismanagement, and inconsistency in policy. Most of the time, the taxpayer funds are mismanaged or are channelled into vain projects and political campaigns, whilst the basic sectors such as health, education and security do not receive the much-needed funds. The outcome is the increasing mistrust between the citizens and the state as Kenyans become more and more abandoned by the institutions that are supposed to be their protection and care.

Kagwanja has said that unless the government is led by decisive, transparent and citizen-oriented leadership, Kenya is likely to entrench inequality, normalise impunity, and leave criminal networks further entrenched.

“To make leaders responsible, structural changes, and ensure that development can be translated into concrete gains by all citizens, not a select few, is the future of the country,” Kagwanja added.

 Kagwanja has noted that without such, the economy of Kenya will keep dwindling, poverty will increase, and crimes will increase, with no generation of Kenyans disillusioned and marginalised, and the political elite taking the fruits of a broken system.