Kenya’s Problems Are Bigger Than Chapati’s

Has anyone else noticed the recent influx of foreigners enjoying our country? In 2025, it seems like these are the only people enjoying or having fun in Kenya, and they are everywhere.

From Umoja, To Kibera, To Kiambu and even Maasai Mara. Meanwhile, across the country, millions of Kenyans are disgruntled at how our country is being led and mismanaged by a president who doesn’t seem to stop lying or making empty promises. The president thinks the solution to our country’s problems is donating money to churches and making millions of Chapatis in a country where millions of youths are educated and unemployed.

Though the current TikTok trend in the country is Minister of Enjoyment from Nigerian singer Shallipopi’s hit single Laho, the truth is that most Kenyans are not enjoying Kenya right now. If anything, they are simply masking their problems in enjoyment. A year ago, Kenyan youth went to the streets to protest against the high cost of living, increased corruption, and poor governance. A year later nothing has changed. Kenyans are still suffering and our politicians still lying and stealing.

As a country, the reason we have increased tourism is because Kenya recently began the process of allowing many African countries to visit Kenya visa-free, as well as the recently introduced Digital Nomad Visa that allows citizens of other countries employed by companies outside Kenya to work from Kenya remotely. Thus, the reason many people who work remotely are now choosing to relocate to Kenya. For tourists and remote workers, Kenya is a great place to be due to the low cost of living but for Kenyans, it is becoming nearly impossible to make ends meet as the economy worsens by the day.

It is ironic because Kenya itself is a rich country, but our leaders continue to fail us. Money meant for development ends up in people’s pockets as Kenyans go hungry. Each week a new corruption scandal is unleashed, with billions and sometimes trillions being reported missing. As a country, we have become numb to what is happening and simply laugh about it on social media. But after we make jokes about it, we go back to our normal lives, and our politicians continue stealing. Things remain business as usual, and the worst part is nobody is talking about the fact that two years after the election, we still do not have a fully constituted IEBC or mass voter registration going on. Meanwhile, the president is busy on top of SUV rooftops seeking reelection, knowing full well that the people on social media will not vote and that no free and fair election will happen in 2027. So, what happens to Kenya? Do we continue watching TikTok and YouTube videos of foreigners having a good time in our country while we suffer? If you are not suffering, then this is not for you, but for those suffering, what is the plan? Shall we continue to suffer and make memes and jokes about it on X? Kenya’s problems are bigger than Chapati’s, and Ruto cannot solve them because he is the one who created them. We, as Kenyans, have to come up with a solution to our problems because it is no longer business as usual. We don’t need politicians; we need leaders. To get us out of this situation we got ourselves into and make sure we never get here again. In 2027, we need everybody who is above 18 to register to vote and make sure that in all polling stations, we, as Kenyans, watch as the votes are counted. We will go home after the winner is announced and a new dawn for Kenya is ushered in. Otherwise, what will happen is that we will lose our country, and it shall become a home for everyone else but not Kenyans. Kenyans don’t need millions of Chapati’s, all we want is job opportunities, an enabling business environment, less corruption, and free and fair elections. We love and want enjoyment but we are trying to drown our sorrows due to the sorry state of our country. Things have to change and that starts with getting rid of El Chapo.