G20 Must Deliver Economic Justice for All: Kenya's 99% Demand a People-First Global Agenda

The Crisis: When Debt Consumes More Than Development

The Fight Inequality Alliance Kenya (FIA Kenya) has called on world leaders meeting at the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa to put people and planet before profits. The Alliance brings together Kenyan civil society, grassroots organizations, and community groups fighting for a simple truth: Kenya's future must be shaped by people-centered policies, not the interests of the privileged few.

The numbers tell a devastating story. Kenya's public debt stands at KSh 11.81 trillion (approximately 67.8% of GDP) meaning more than half of every shilling collected goes to debt repayment, not to Kenyan families. The government now spends more on debt than on any single social sector, while about 36% of Kenyans live below the national poverty line.

How the G20 Deepens Inequality in Kenya

The G20's influence reaches Kenya through four critical pathways:

Global tax cooperation and debt restructuring directly affect Kenya's fiscal space, determining whether the country can invest in citizens or continue servicing foreign lenders. The G20's economic policies set the tone for international institutions and investors, shaping Kenya's access to finance and development priorities.

Trade and investment rules can accelerate privatization and deregulation, often at the expense of local industries and jobs. Kenya's recent Privatization Act 2025, signed into law on October 15, exemplifies how international pressure translates into domestic policy that threatens essential services.

Climate finance decisions determine whether Kenya receives adequate support for adaptation and community resilience. The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) privatization the first major transaction under the new framework raises concerns about who controls national resources.

Voices from Kenya's People's Assemblies

In Nairobi, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Kiambu, diverse communities have spoken about the impact of G20-driven economic frameworks:

Surging tax burdens squeeze households and businesses, driven by global tax rules and recommendations. Land injustice and rising living costs are linked to international investment policies encouraged by the G20. The collapse of industries and job scarcity are tied to global trade priorities that often favor multinational corporations over local economies. Women, youth, and rural communities are hit hardest by economic decisions made far from their realities.

FIA Kenya's Five Demands for the G20

1. Debt Justice

The G20 must support cancellation or restructuring of illegitimate and unsustainable debt, enabling investment in essential services. This includes a comprehensive public debt audit and an African debt negotiation platform, ensuring no country spends more on lenders than on citizens.

2. Fair Taxation

The G20 should drive global tax rules that require the super-rich and corporations to pay their fair share, while ending regressive taxation on the poor. A global UN tax convention must ensure corporations pay where they operate, not where they hide profits.

3. Public Services for All

Reverse austerity and ensure investments in health, education, water, and social protection.

4. Economic Inclusion

All G20 processes should empower women, youth, and marginalized communities, ensuring their voices shape policy. Civil society demands include 40% women's representation in utility governance bodies and radical transparency in all economic decisions.

5. Climate Finance

The G20 must commit to climate finance that protects vulnerable countries and supports adaptation and resilience in Kenya and the Global South.

The Domestic Accountability Gap

The Privatization Act 2025 exemplifies this challenge. Despite the previous 2023 Act being declared unconstitutional for lack of public participation, the new law still faces criticism from trade unions and civil society organizations who warn that privatization "consistently leads to exclusion, unaffordable tariffs, deteriorating service quality and erosion of labour rights."

A New Global Economic Order Is Possible

Four key messages for world leaders:

The G20 must put people, not profits, at the center of global economic policy. Kenya's experience shows that global rules on debt, tax, and trade must be reformed to deliver justice for the 99%. Women, youth, and rural communities must have a voice in G20 decisions that shape their futures. A new global economic order is possible, one built on solidarity, care, and democracy.

Join the Movement

Use #WeThe99 and #DrawTheRedLine to amplify Kenya's demands for fair taxation, debt justice, investment in public services, and a future where the 99% shape our destiny.

About Brenda Osoro

Brenda Osoro is National Coordinator of the Fight Inequality Alliance Kenya. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and sustainable development who leads grassroots mobilization to challenge systemic inequalities and advance fair policies.

As a Programme and Operations Specialist with over six years of experience, she has led advocacy campaigns and built strategic partnerships to advance equitable public policies across Africa. A strong mental health advocate and feminist, Brenda believes in the transformative power of mental well-being as a foundation for equity, empowerment, and sustainable progress.

She serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for Mental 360. Brenda is driven by the vision of a world where policies and systems serve people, ensuring dignity and fairness for all.

Join the conversation:
#WeThe99 #FightInequality #G20 #TaxJustice #DrawTheRedLine #EconomicJustice

Sources: National Treasury of Kenya, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), FIA Kenya Assembly Reports