- DCP has criticised Treasury CS John Mbadi over his soda consumption remarks.
- Senator John Methu says Kenyans need money in their pockets, not speeches.
- The party challenged the government to present stronger evidence of economic improvement.
- DCP defended Rigathi Gachagua’s recent statement and described it as a demand for accountability.
- The party also raised concerns over killings, abductions and media harassment.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has sharply criticised Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi over his recent remarks linking increased soda consumption to economic improvement in Kenya.
Speaking at the party headquarters on Thursday, Secretary General-designate Senator John Methu dismissed the argument as weak and called on the Treasury CS to provide stronger evidence that the economy is improving under President William Ruto’s administration.
Addressing journalists, the Nyandarua senator said Kenyans are struggling with high living costs and want practical solutions rather than what he termed unconvincing economic explanations.
“Stop giving us speeches and infertile arguments that more Kenyans are taking soda and therefore the economy is good,” Methu said.
“Kenyans don’t eat speeches; they want money in their pockets,” he added.
Methu argued that the true test of economic performance should be measured through household welfare and business activity rather than consumption figures.
He challenged the government to answer whether Kenyans are saving more, retaining more of their salaries after tax, earning better incomes from farming and operating more profitable businesses.
The senator also questioned whether young people are finding jobs and whether fewer families are borrowing money simply to meet daily needs.
The DCP official also defended former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following criticism from leaders allied to the broad-based government after the release of his “Ruto at Four” statement.
Methu said the document should not be viewed as a political attack but as a demand for accountability from an administration that has been in office for four years.
He claimed the statement amounted to an audit of the government’s performance and accused President Ruto of failing to deliver on key promises.
The senator reiterated calls for accountability over the deaths of Gen Z protesters, alleged abductions of Kenyans, harassment of journalists and the reported abduction of foreign nationals.
According to Methu, these issues remain unresolved and require clear answers from the government.
The DCP statement came after Mbadi argued that some opposition to President Ruto was being driven by ethnic politics and insisted that there were signs of economic improvement.
“If it’s the economy, we should be celebrated, and some of us should be given awards. Soft drink consumption has gone up in this country; do you know what that tells you? People take sodas when there is a little more in their pockets,” Mbadi said.
His comments quickly attracted criticism from opposition leaders and sections of the public, who argued that rising consumption of soft drinks is not sufficient evidence that ordinary households are experiencing economic relief.
The exchange highlights the increasingly heated debate over the state of Kenya’s economy ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Government officials have pointed to indicators such as economic growth, revenue collection and improved macroeconomic stability, while opposition leaders continue to argue that many Kenyans have yet to feel tangible benefits in their daily lives.
The disagreement is expected to remain a major political issue as both sides continue to frame the economic record of the Ruto administration in sharply different ways.
