Rigathi Gachagua’s Call for Population Growth: A Strategy for Economic Development

In a recent interview, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made a bold statement that has sparked a lively debate. He urged the Kikuyu community in Central Kenya to increase their family sizes as a strategy for economic development.

A Regret and a Call to Action
Gachagua expressed regret over having only two children, a decision he attributes to the influence of Western mentality. He stated, “I was deceived by the white man to only get two children. It’s the stupidity of that era because we were still naive and believed everything the white man said… We were nine in our family and despite our parents being uneducated, they took us to school,”.

In his call to action, Gachagua encouraged families to have more children, hinting at the biblical analogy of “multiply, and fill the Earth”. He stated, “Let people have 5, 6, 7, 8 (children)… God will help you and you will be able to raise them,”.

The Economic Implications
Gachagua believes that a larger population in Central Kenya would lead to increased economic development. He emphasized his determination to end the business of illicit brews in Central Kenya, which he believes was a ploy to reduce the region’s population.

He also expressed concern over Mt Kenya youth who move to the city for work and fail to return home during the census. This results in the region not receiving its rightful share of national resources in terms of population. He urged those who have moved to the city for work to return home during the census.

A Controversial Strategy
While Gachagua’s call for population growth has sparked debate, it also raises important questions about sustainable development. Critics argue that increasing population without adequate planning and resources could lead to overpopulation and strain on resources.

However, Gachagua’s statements reflect a broader conversation about the relationship between population growth and economic development. As this debate continues, it will be interesting to see how these ideas are received and what impact they may have on future policy decisions.