Why did economic growth under Jomo Kenyatta not raise living standards equally for all Kenyans?

Under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya experienced significant economic growth, yet this prosperity did not translate into equal living standards for all citizens due to several structural and political factors.

The primary reasons for this inequality include:

• Concentration of Wealth: Kenyatta’s capitalist-oriented fiscal policies led to a massive accumulation of wealth within his own family and among his close associates.12
• Ethnic Disparities: Critics, including political figures like Oginga Odinga, argued that the government’s policies favored the Kikuyu ethnic group at the expense of others. This was evidenced by the transfer of over 1,500,000 acres of government land to wealthy individuals, many of whom were Kikuyu, which fueled perceptions of an ethnic plot to consolidate power and resources.32
• Demographic Pressures: An extremely high rate of population growth during this period strained the country's resources, limiting employment opportunities and making it difficult to provide adequate housing, education, and health services for the broader population.14
• Economic Challenges: While the economy grew, it struggled to maintain a favorable balance of trade amid rising global oil prices and periodic droughts, which disproportionately impacted the poor.53