David Ndii: Kenyans Slam Ruto's Senior Economic Advisor for Blaming Gen Z Over Slow Growth
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected slow economic growth for Kenya in the fiscal year 2025
- Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2025 shows the country's economy slowed to 4.7% in 2024, compared to 5.7%
- President William Ruto's Council of Economic Advisors chair, David Ndii, blamed the slow growth on disruptions resulting from the June 2024 protests organised by Gen Zs
- Ndii's sentiments caught the attention of many Kenyans, who went online to dismiss them, while others blamed the economists
Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Kenyans have criticised President William Ruto's Council of Economic Advisors chair, David Ndii, over his remarks on the country's economy.
Source: Twitter
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2025, the country reported a 4.7% growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024.
What caused slow growth in Kenya's economy?
The report noted this was slow growth compared to the 5.7% reported in the financial year 2023.
In a tweet posted on Thursday, May 8, Ndii blamed the slow growth in the country's economy on the June 2024 Finance Bill protests by Gen Zs.
The economist argued that the protestors sabotaged the Kenya Kwanza government budget for the year under review.
"The people who disrupted the economy, sabotaged the government budget are now asking why the economy slowed down instead of taking credit," read the tweet in part.
Source: Twitter
What Kenyans said about Ndii's remarks on economy
The majority of Kenyans reacting to the post dismissed the sentiments, accusing Ndii of poor economic advice that has seen the government's increased borrowing spree.
@RufasKe wrote:
"You didn't reject the appropriations bill so the government spent as projected, with more borrowing. CBK jacked up rates to 13%. You mopped up KES liquidity by accepting even KES 50,000 in treasuries. You can't blame a heavily unemployed Gen Z for your government's failures."
@Web3Aible claimed:
"You advised this and the previous governments to take over 4 trillion loans which were fleeced with no impact on the economy. What did you expect? Now shifting the blame to hardworking, overtaxed Kenyans, you are now even taxing AI 16%."
@luwigyy noted:
"...the tax policies you people are implementing are the ones messing us up, even a little kid can understand this clearly."
@wanyama__wafula asked:
"Have you taken credit for all the miscalculations you proposed or engineered ?"
@lync_carpool said:
"The damage was done, but you promised to reverse the effects. Stop yapping and get to work."
@JonesMbevi argued:
"Finally, you have accepted that there is a slowdown in the economy... who is responsible for that is where you draw the line..."
@ItsSkyt wondered:
"You eat taxpayers' money advising the president. Is this what you usually tell him?"
@OtienoRubz asked:
"Why are we allocating 2.3 billion for renovations?"
@mtukufumimi claimed:
"You are the one looking for excuses brother. Growth was already slowing before Gen Z protests..."
@jackndunya argued:
"Your advisory committee has received more allocation (in tens of Billions) to disguise the "reduction" in the OP budget."
What's Kenya's economic projection in 2025?
This came as the government released budget estimates for the financial year 2025/26, beginning July 1, 2025.
However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected slow economic growth for the country during the same year.
IMF said Kenya's economy will grow at a slower rate of 4.8%, down from its previous projection of 5%.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
