CS Oparanya: Employed and rich? You’re stealing, salary alone can’t make you rich

Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya/SCREENGRAB

Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has sparked debate after remarking that salaried employment alone cannot make one wealthy.

He said that those who appear rich while formally employed may be engaging in dishonest practices.

Speaking during a public event, Oparanya argued that building real wealth in Kenya largely depends on venturing into business rather than relying on a monthly paycheck.

“If you are employed and rich, you are stealing from your employer. A salary alone cannot make you rich,” he said.

The CS anchored his remarks on the government’s renewed focus on supporting small-scale entrepreneurs, whom he described as the backbone of the economy.

According to Oparanya, nearly 22 million Kenyans are engaged in small businesses, forming a critical mass that the government is targeting through policy and financial support.

“Almost 22 million people are running small businesses, and they need to be supported. The government has established a ministry to assist them,” he said.

The CS added that there are ongoing efforts under his docket to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He further emphasised that the large number of Kenyans operating in the informal and small business sector is not insignificant, but rather central to economic growth and livelihoods.

“Twenty-two million people are not a small number. They are the ones we are targeting,” he added.

Oparanya noted that the government is working on strategies to bring these entrepreneurs together, enabling them to access capital and expand their ventures.

He said the goal is to ensure that small-scale traders and business owners can generate sustainable income, support their families, and contribute meaningfully to the national economy.

“We are bringing them together and helping them access capital to grow their businesses,” he said.

The CS maintained that entrepreneurship remains the most viable pathway to financial prosperity, urging Kenyans to rethink their overreliance on formal employment.

“If you want to become rich, you must do business. Even if you are employed, you will not become rich through a salary alone,” he stated.

Oparanya framed his argument within a broader economic policy direction that prioritises grassroots wealth creation.

He said empowering millions of small-scale traders would not only improve household incomes but also strengthen the country’s economic base.

“That is why the government has decided to support these 22 million people, so they can grow their businesses, have money in their pockets, support their families, and contribute to the economy,” he said.

The CS affirmed that the government has put in place the necessary measures to support MSMEs, which are key drivers of the economy.

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