Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pushed back against President William Ruto’s recent remarks urging Kenyans aged 25 and above to get married and stop spending nights in clubs, saying the Head of State should first address the economic hardships facing young people.
Speaking during a public address, Gachagua said today’s youth are unable to settle down because they lack the financial stability needed to start families. He accused President Ruto of creating an economic environment that makes marriage unrealistic for many.
“Ruto, you are the reason why young men are not marrying,” Gachagua said, questioning how young adults were expected to take on responsibilities without meaningful economic opportunities.
He added: “How do you marry somebody’s daughter when you have no salary, no house, no money, and when you get a kid SHA is not working?”
He argued that young people continue to grapple with joblessness, rising living costs, and uncertainty around social support systems, all of which hinder their ability to plan for marriage or raise families.
