JAMILA'S MEMO: Forced savings or forced suffering?

But when news of the minister’s statement hit social media, the reactions were swift — and ranged from disbelief to outright ridicule. Many Kenyans found the idea not only absurd but painfully out of touch with the economic realities facing millions of citizens.

And rightly so. For years now, Kenyans have been struggling under the weight of multiple deductions, rising taxes, and an ever-growing cost of living. The suggestion that people can be forced to save — by law — feels not only impractical but insensitive. As one Kenyan put it:

“Ulazimishwe kulipa tax, housing levy, pension mbili, SHIF na SHA halafu wakulazimishe kusave — total ikuje 20k na unaearn 15k. Kenya inaenda wapi?”

This latest announcement has exposed what many believe to be a consistent pattern by government: a lack of imagination. Every challenge is met with legislation.

Every solution is a law. But as many have pointed out, we already have a legal framework for savings — NSSF. So what will this new law do that NSSF doesn't? What happens if you "break" this new savings law? Jail time for not having money?

As one Kenyan sarcastically laid out the government’s typical playbook:

“1. Introduce saving deductions. 2. Have it declared unconstitutional by the High Court for lack of public participation. 3. Appeal. 4. Obtain stay of execution and 14 days to ‘rectify.’ 5. Rectify, deduct, steal and leave! WOW!”

Another asked a question many are now echoing:

“Have countries with high personal savings rates passed laws to enforce it? Or have they created environments that support and encourage saving?”

This is the crux of the matter. You cannot legislate a culture of saving into existence. You can only nurture it by empowering citizens. That means reducing taxes on essential goods. It means ensuring affordable healthcare and education. It means eliminating corruption so that public funds actually serve the people.

Look at what happened with SHA and the Affordable Housing Levy. Both entered the scene as “savings schemes,” and are now taxes by law. Many fear this proposed law will follow the same path.

One X user wrote “Each day they brainstorm new ideas on how to burden Kenyans.” 

This constant targeting of payslips is exhausting the working class. Already, people are contributing to NSSF. Some have deductions from sacco loans, bank repayments, health insurance, school fees — and now more mandatory "savings"?

Let’s not forget: the issue isn’t that Kenyans don’t want to save. They do. They save through chamas, saccos, banks, M-PESA, even table banking. The issue is that their trust is constantly betrayed. As one person pointed out:

“Most of our labor laws aren’t even operational. Most people don’t even know what gratuity is in Kenya or how it’s supposed to work .”

So before introducing another policy wrapped in legalese, the government must first answer this:

Where is the money from NSSF, Hustler Fund, SHA, and Housing Levy going? Who’s accounting for it?

Kenyans are not resisting saving. They are resisting theft disguised as saving. They are resisting being punished for systemic failures. They are resisting a government that refuses to do the hard work of building an economy that actually works — choosing instead to legislate its way out of every crisis.

If the government truly wants to improve the savings culture in Kenya, the solution is simple:

Fix the economy. Lower the cost of living. Ensure job security. Pay people fairly. Enforce existing labor protections. And above all, stop stealing public funds.

Want Kenyans to save? Then show them that their money is safe. Show them that their sacrifice will result in benefit — not loss.

And until then, stop trying to squeeze water from a stone.

And that is my memo tonight.