Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has rejected the notion that increased consumption of soft drinks is a reliable indicator of Kenya's economic recovery. His comments came during a Sunday church service at PCEA Rev. Samuel Marima Memorial Church in Gatundu South, Kiambu County.
Gachagua criticized Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi's recent assertion that rising soda sales suggest that Kenyans have more disposable income. Mbadi had argued that higher purchases of non-essential goods like sodas point to improved household financial stability.
"I know these people are treating us like fools, saying that because people drink more soda, the economy is okay," Gachagua remarked, expressing skepticism about using soft drink consumption as a marker of economic progress.
In contrast, Gachagua proposed an alternative gauge of economic wellbeing: church offerings. He suggested that fluctuations in giving during services could better reflect how households are managing financially.
"If you want to know if the economy is doing well, ask the pastor about the offering; it will tell you how the economy is moving," he said. "Offerings will tell you how the economy is doing because Christians love giving to God. If you see offerings going down, know that the economy has deteriorated."
Mbadi had previously stated that the government has made strides in stabilizing an economy that was near crisis when the Kenya Kwanza administration assumed office. He highlighted the increase in soft drink consumption as evidence of this progress.
However, Gachagua’s remarks underscore ongoing debates about the best ways to assess Kenya’s economic health amid mixed signals from various economic indicators.
