Kenyans Should Brace For More Economic Pain, Warns Mudavadi

By Staff Writer

Kenyans should prepare for a fresh wave of economic hardship in the coming months as rising global instability, soaring oil prices and inflationary pressures linked to the Middle East conflict could further squeeze household incomes and disrupt livelihoods across the country.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi warned that the worsening global economic environment is likely to trigger higher transport and production costs, deepen inflationary pressures and threaten job security across multiple sectors of the economy.

Mudavadi said the world is still struggling to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, even as fresh geopolitical tensions continue to destabilize global markets and supply chains.

“In the recent past humanity has been affected due to what is going on globally, affecting economies, livelihoods and destabilizing societies. Kenyans must realise that it is not going to be like instant coffee to fix some of the challenges we are facing now,” warned the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

He said the recent surge in global oil prices linked to the conflict-prone Middle East should serve as a wake-up call for Kenya and other nations to begin exploring alternative and sustainable economic solutions.

“It might not be business as usual in the next three or four months as a result of what is happening in the middle east, and the surge in oil prices is only one of the indicators that we should begin thinking of alternative solutions that will be available to make us survive,” he added.

Mudavadi spoke during the official closing ceremony of the week-long Science, Technology, Research and Innovation Week held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary urged Kenyans to stop political finger-pointing and instead unite in seeking both medium-term and long-term solutions to cushion the country from the impact of recurring global shocks.

He noted that the world was walking on a “tight rope” economically and warned that the pressure could intensify in the near future, making it necessary for citizens to psychologically prepare for tougher times and adapt to new survival strategies.

Mudavadi said investment in science, research, technology and innovation would be critical in helping Kenya navigate the emerging global economic challenges and accelerate sustainable development.

“Advancements in solutions from skills in technology and innovation, based on enhanced science and research should be the central focus for us. We need to think outside the box to help society adjust to the global shocks through accelerated research and innovation,” said Mudavadi.

He emphasized that Kenya remains among Africa’s leading innovation-driven economies and disclosed that the government is working towards increasing funding for research, science and innovation to at least two percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Mudavadi, who also serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said President William Ruto’s administration had placed science, technology and innovation at the centre of Kenya’s socioeconomic transformation agenda.

He added that scientific knowledge only becomes meaningful when translated into practical solutions that benefit communities, industries and policymakers.

“The task before us now is to build upon these possibilities deliberately, decisively and at scale to drive national growth and shared prosperity. It is equally important that we confront the constraints that continue to limit the full realization of our national science, technology and innovation potential as a driver of national development,” Mudavadi said.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary also expressed confidence that the establishment of the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation would strengthen coordination, governance and commercialization of research outputs in the country.

“I am confident that the establishment of the State Department for Science Research and Innovation will help resolve the coordination and governance issues. It will ensure that we collectively drive the changes required so that research informs policy, inventions are translated into market-ready innovations and science delivers measurable economic value in the daily lives of Kenyan citizens,” he added.

During the event, Mudavadi launched the Masterplan for Research Financing and Capacity Strengthening document supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The ceremony was attended by Principal Secretaries Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak of the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation and Beatrice Inyangala of the State Department for Higher Education, alongside researchers, innovators and scholars drawn from different sectors of the economy.