Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, has admitted that the economy is struggling. He spoke on April 6 during a graduation ceremony at Migori Teachers Training College. Mbadi said that Kenya’s financial problems started when the country took short-term loans to fund long-term projects. Now, those loans have become too heavy to repay.

“It is true that our economy is not doing very well. It is largely because at one time we took short-term loans to develop long-term projects,” said Mbadi.

This honest statement from Mbadi is different from what President William Ruto has been saying. While the President says the economy is growing, Mbadi says it is not doing well. He explained that two-thirds of Kenya’s revenue is being used to pay back loans. This means less money is left for development, salaries, and public services.

Kenya’s debt has now reached about 10 trillion shillings. The country is being forced to reduce its dependence on foreign aid and rely more on local resources. Mbadi called this one of the hardest times for Kenya financially, but he said the Treasury is working on plans to fix the situation.

He also urged people from the Nyanza region to support President Ruto, saying the President cares about them and is ready to work with everyone.

Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko also spoke at the event. He asked the Treasury to increase the budget for hiring and paying teachers. Ayacko warned that if teachers continue being underpaid, they will lose motivation, and this will harm education.

As the country struggles with rising debt and a tight budget, Kenyans are now waiting to see if these promised changes will bring relief.