Oxfam Report: 125 Wealthiest Kenyans Now Richer Than 42.6 Million Citizens

By : Mweru Mbugua 

A new report by Oxfam Kenya has revealed alarming levels of economic inequality, showing that nearly half of all Kenyans live in extreme poverty surviving on less than Ksh.130 per day while the country’s wealthiest 125 individuals hold more wealth than 42.6 million people combined

According to the report, Kenya’s Inequality Crisis: The Great Economic Divide, released on November 11, 2025, the number of Kenyans living in extreme poverty has risen by 7 million (37%) since 2015

Oxfam attributes this widening gap to chronic underinvestment in education, healthcare, and agriculture, driven largely by the government’s heavy debt repayment obligations

In 2024, for every Ksh.100 collected in taxes, Ksh.68 went toward servicing public debt double the education budget and nearly 15 times the national health budget

As a result, children from the poorest households receive almost five fewer years of education than those from the richest families

Government spending on primary school pupils has plummeted to just 18% of what it was in 2003. The strain on social amenities is further reflected in healthcare

Only 4 million Kenyans actively contribute to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and in 2024, only 20% of national health insurance funds reached public hospitals, despite serving the majority of citizens

Oxfam Kenya Executive Director Mwongera Mutiga criticized what he described as deliberate policy choices that have allowed inequality to spiral

“The gap between the rich and the poor has been allowed to grow unchecked, while millions struggle just to survive,” Mutiga said, calling for bold and urgent reforms

The report highlights severe food insecurity, with 17 million Kenyans facing moderate to acute shortages between 2014 and 2024 due to relentless climate shocks

 Also read : Failed UDA Aspirants from Malava Awarded Diplomatic Posts in Uganda and South Africa

Food prices have risen by 50% since 2020, disproportionately affecting the poor. In Nairobi, inflation for low-income earners was 27% higher than that of wealthier residents during the same period

Social protection remains limited, with only 9% of Kenyans covered by at least one programme

Among the poorest 20%, just a fifth receive assistance. Inua Jamii, the main state-funded support initiative, has not revised its monthly Ksh.2,000 stipend despite rising inflation

The report also highlights deep inequalities in the job market. With 85% of the workforce in informal employment, wages are unstable and gender gaps persist

Women make up only 38% of the formal workforce and earn just 62% of men’s total labour income

They are also five times more likely to perform unpaid care work, and fewer than a third own homes

Oxfam warns that taxation policies continue to burden low-income earners. Flat-rate taxes introduced in 2023 particularly on housing and health hit the poor hardest, while rental income taxes for property owners were reduced

 Also read : Engineer Arrested for Forging Transport Ministry Contract Extension Letter

Consumption taxes like VAT, which disproportionately affect the poor, contribute more than half of total revenue

The report also links Kenya’s inequality to colonial-era systems that entrenched economic power among a small elite while marginalizing local communities

To address these disparities, Oxfam recommends policy reforms that could triple extreme poverty reduction rates if inequality is reduced by 2% annually alongside 2% economic growth

Key proposals include raising the education budget to 20% of government expenditure, boosting health funding to at least 15%, and implementing progressive taxation to redistribute wealth

“Inequality is not inevitable it is a choice,” Oxfam concludes, urging the government to invest in universal education, quality healthcare, dignified jobs, and land justice in order to ensure a fairer future for all Kenyans