NAIROBI, Kenya — As world leaders head to South Africa for this year’s G20 Summit, the Fight Inequality Alliance Kenya (FIA Kenya) has issued a powerful appeal for a global economic order anchored in human dignity, fairness, and social justice—rather than corporate profit.
Representing a wide coalition of civil society groups, grassroots networks, and community-based organizations, FIA Kenya says the G20 must confront what it calls “an escalating global inequality crisis” by adopting people-centered policies that promote accountability and sustainable development.
Despite Kenya’s status as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, inequality remains stark. Latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that nearly 40 percent of Kenyans live below the poverty line, while youth unemployment stands at 13.4 percent. At the same time, the country’s public debt has ballooned to KSh 11.81 trillion, or 67.8 percent of GDP, resulting in more than half of all government revenue being channeled toward debt repayment instead of critical public services.
According to FIA Kenya, this crisis is not purely domestic but mirrors a global pattern shaped by decisions made by the world’s largest economies. The alliance argues that the G20 continues to uphold an economic architecture that benefits corporate elites at the expense of ordinary citizens. Multinational corporations, it says, take advantage of tax loopholes and profit-shifting schemes, while citizens face high taxes, rising living costs, and shrinking social protections.
In recent months, FIA Kenya has convened People’s Assemblies in Nairobi, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Kiambu to capture the lived experiences of communities affected by global economic policies. Participants spoke of surging food prices, job losses, and the collapse of local industries—challenges they link to international trade, debt, and investment frameworks influenced by the G20.
The consultations culminated in a People’s Declaration, a unified demand for a just global economy that respects human rights and protects vulnerable populations.
Brenda Osoro, National Coordinator of FIA Kenya, said the G20 must stop operating as “an exclusive club for the powerful.”
“Its decisions affect the livelihoods of millions—from farmers in rural Kenya to informal workers in our cities,” she said. “Our voices must count in shaping a new global order that values people over profit.”
FIA Kenya is calling for sweeping reforms at the global level, including:
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Restructuring or cancellation of unsustainable debt to allow developing countries to invest in public services.
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A global tax framework to ensure multinationals and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.
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An end to austerity measures that have weakened public health, education, and social protection systems.
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Inclusive decision-making, particularly for women, youth, and marginalized communities.
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Fair distribution of climate finance to support adaptation and resilience in frontline nations.
Pauline Nyakara Muhonja, the alliance’s Mobilization and Communication Officer, said the G20’s economic decisions carry deep implications for countries in the Global South.
“Global justice cannot thrive on exclusion,” she said. “The G20 must redefine its purpose to serve humanity, not corporate power.”
FIA Kenya insists that inequality is not inevitable but the result of deliberate policy choices that can be reversed with political will and global solidarity. The alliance is part of a growing movement across Africa, Asia, and Latin America pushing for a new social contract between the Global North and South—one rooted in fairness, equity, and climate justice.
As G20 leaders gather in South Africa, the message from grassroots communities in Kenya and beyond is resounding: economic systems must serve people, not profits.
FIA Kenya says it will continue rallying citizens and allies worldwide in the fight for a more just, inclusive, and equitable global order.
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