Willis Otieno now raises red flag over Kenya’s rising public debt
By David Nthua, June 29, 2026Political commentator and lawyer Willis Otieno has raised concerns over Kenya’s rising public debt, warning that ordinary citizens should not spend generations repaying loans that did not improve their lives.
In a statement on Monday, June 29, 2026, Otieno said Kenyans were already struggling with higher taxes, a soaring cost of living, failing public services and shrinking economic opportunities.
This, even as yet, the country remained trapped in what he described as an endless cycle of borrowing to repay borrowing.
Kenya’s public debt as of 2026
According to the National Treasury’s Public Debt Bulletin for April 2026, Kenya’s total public debt stood at Ksh12.856 trillion, representing 69.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.
Domestic debt amounted to Ksh7.185 trillion, while external debt stood at Ksh5.670 trillion. This means domestic debt accounted for 55.9 per cent of the total debt stock, while external debt accounted for 44.1 per cent.
Otieno argued that every shilling borrowed should translate into real public benefit, including better schools, equipped hospitals, flood protection, farmer support, jobs and business growth.
“Every shilling should build schools, equip hospitals, protect families from floods, support farmers, create jobs, and grow businesses, not trap the country in an endless cycle of borrowing to repay borrowing,” Otieno said.
He also warned against heavy domestic borrowing, saying government appetite for credit risks crowding out farmers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and young innovators who also need access to financing.
Willis Otieno comments on Kenya’s debt
“A government should not compete with its own people for credit. Kenya’s first obligation is to its people, not to debt,” he added.
Treasury data shows domestic debt increased by Ksh36.05 billion between March and April 2026, rising from Ksh7.149 trillion to Ksh7.185 trillion.
During the same period, external debt declined slightly by Ksh12.59 billion, from Ksh5.683 trillion to Ksh5.670 trillion, mainly due to repayments and exchange rate movements.
Otieno further called for scrutiny of what he termed odious debt, arguing that Kenyans should not be forced to repay loans they neither approved nor benefited from.
“No nation should be forced to choose between feeding its children and paying questionable debts,” he said.
He called for what he described as an ‘economic fist’, saying Kenya needs a new economic direction that protects paychecks, supports farmers and entrepreneurs, creates jobs and lowers the cost of living.
His remarks come at a time when public debt, taxation and the cost of living remain major political issues ahead of the 2027 general election.