Lawyer Willis Otieno, deputy leader of the Safina Party, has called for a shift in national focus from political competition to economic empowerment.

Otieno has emphasised that the focus should move from political contests to ensuring the economy works for ordinary citizens.

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“Our people don’t need more leaders in power; they need power over their own lives, power to put food on the table, educate their children, and build sustainable livelihoods. But what do our politicians do? They fight for positions, scramble for government appointments, and trade party loyalties for personal gain, all while the ordinary citizen struggles under the weight of high taxes, joblessness, and a broken economy,” Otieno said on X post dated November 3, 2025.

Youth unemployment and economic reform

Otieno’s remarks come amid growing public frustration with Kenya’s political class, as the country faces a youth unemployment rate exceeding 13% despite a projected GDP growth of 5.6% in 2025.

He emphasised the need to prioritise the economy over political offices, stating, “We need to shift the conversation from who gets what seat to how the economy works for the people.”

The lawyer has criticised the current administration for poor policies affecting youth employment. On October 29, 2025, he remarked, “One major problem that the youth are facing is a lack of employment, which has resulted from poor economic planning, misallocation of resources, and a lack of investment in industries that can absorb young talent.”

He added, “Instead of creating environments where young people can thrive through industries like tech, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, Kenya Kwisha continues to rely on outdated economic models. Leaving young people with few opportunities and no clear path forward.”

Critique of long-serving politicians

Otieno also targeted long-serving politicians, accusing them of clinging to power without delivering results. On October 13, 2025, he stated, “If these so-called legacy politicians were genuinely interested in serving the people, we wouldn’t need their promises; their record would speak for itself. Between them, cumulatively, they have held power for over 200 years… Two centuries of opportunity. Two centuries of speeches. Two centuries of failure.”

He highlighted deficiencies in public services, saying, “In those 200 years, what do Kenyans have to show for their leadership? A healthcare system that is on its deathbed… An education system that has collapsed under the weight of poor planning and chronic underfunding.”

Otieno’s statements come as the government rolls out the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project, a World Bank-backed initiative providing Ksh50,000 grants to over 820,000 youth. Despite this, he continues to advocate for systemic economic reforms rather than political posturing.