FIA Kenya Urges G20 Leaders to Put People Before Profits in Pursuit of Global Economic Justice.
By Peace Muthoka.
Nairobi, Kenya – November 13, 2025:
The Fight Inequality Alliance Kenya (FIA Kenya) has urged world leaders gathering for the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa to put people and planet before profits by adopting a people-first global economic agenda.
Reading the statement on behalf of the Alliance, Brenda Osoro, the National Coordinator and Lead Spokesperson of FIA Kenya, said the G20 must move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible reforms that confront the growing global inequality crisis.
“The G20 continues to operate within an economic framework that deepens inequality rather than addressing it,” Osoro said. “We are calling for an economy that works for the 99%, not just for a privileged few.”
Global Inequality, Local Crisis
FIA Kenya, which unites civil society groups, grassroots movements, and community organizations, noted that Kenya’s inequality is both a domestic and global issue. Although the country is among Africa’s emerging economies, the benefits of growth remain unevenly distributed.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, about 36% of Kenyans live below the poverty line, while youth unemployment remains high at 13.4%. Kenya’s public debt now stands at KSh 11.81 trillion, or 67.8% of GDP, meaning that more than half of every shilling collected goes to debt repayment instead of supporting Kenyan families.
“The country’s debt burden, rising cost of living, and shrinking access to basic services are direct results of global economic policies that favour the wealthy and punish the poor,” Osoro said. “Kenya’s leaders must stop managing poverty and start tackling inequality through fair taxation, social protection, and investment in public services.”
People’s Assemblies Reclaim Kenya’s Voice
Ahead of the G20 Summit, FIA Kenya has convened People’s Assemblies across Nairobi, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Kiambu to amplify the voices of ordinary citizens excluded from global decision-making. These assemblies have developed a People’s Declaration, representing Kenya’s 99%, calling for economic justice, dignity, and fairness.
In these forums, Kenyans spoke about the rising tax burden, loss of jobs, land injustices, and privatization of essential services issues they say are linked to international financial rules shaped by G20 member states. Women, youth, and rural communities shared stories of how austerity measures and global trade policies have worsened their living conditions.
“The G20’s decisions are made behind closed doors, yet they determine the fate of millions,” Osoro added. “Through our People’s Assemblies, Kenyans are reclaiming their voice and demanding that the G20 listens to those most affected by inequality.”
FIA Kenya’s Five-Point Agenda for the G20
FIA Kenya outlined five urgent actions for G20 leaders to tackle inequality both globally and nationally:
- Debt Justice: Support the cancellation or restructuring of illegitimate and unsustainable debts to free resources for social investment.
- Fair Taxation: Create a global UN tax convention ensuring multinational corporations and the super-rich pay their fair share where they operate.
- Public Services for All: Reverse austerity measures and invest in education, healthcare, water, and social protection.
- Economic Inclusion: Ensure women, youth, and marginalized communities shape policies that affect their lives.
- Climate Finance for the Global South: Commit to fair and predictable climate funding to help vulnerable nations adapt and build resilience.
FIA Kenya also called for a comprehensive public debt audit, an African debt negotiation platform, and citizen participation in budget and debt decisions, saying that “democracy should not end at the ballot box.”
A Call for Courage and Global Solidarity
FIA Kenya emphasized that inequality is not inevitable it is the result of policy choices that can be changed through political will and collective action. The Alliance urged G20 leaders to embrace transformative reforms that prioritize human dignity, fairness, and sustainable development.
“The G20 must stop governing for the few and start acting for the many,” said Osoro. “Economic inequality is not a statistic; it’s the daily struggle of millions who are left behind by systems designed to protect wealth, not people.”
As Kenya prepares to participate in the G20 Summit in South Africa, FIA Kenya is calling on global leaders to heed the voices of ordinary citizens and take bold steps toward an inclusive and just global economy.
