Constitutional lawyer and governance advocate Willis Otieno has criticised Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi over his comments attributing current economic challenges to global and external factors.

The debate was fueled by remarks from Mbadi, who suggested that stronger economic growth recorded during the early years of former presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta was partly due to the absence of major global disruptions currently affecting the country.

Taking to his X account on May 2, 2026, Otieno questioned the specificity of the Cabinet Secretary’s claims, challenging him to clearly outline the issues responsible for the slowdown.

“Which issues precisely are you referring to, CS? Be specific. Is it a global pandemic that your government mismanaged, leading to unprecedented public debt?” Otieno stated.

Mismanagement of global shocks

He cited what he termed as mismanagement of global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that government decisions during that period contributed to a surge in public debt.

He also dismissed the frequent attribution of economic strain to the Russia-Ukraine war, noting that several African economies facing similar external pressures have performed better than Kenya.

“Is it the war in Ukraine, which conveniently ignores the fact that other African economies are outperforming Kenya despite similar external shocks? Or is it perhaps the internal “issues” of record-breaking graft, opaque spending, and an aggressive privatization agenda that mirrors asset-stripping rather than reform?” Otieno asked.

CS Mbadi on the current economic status

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has raised concerns over rising global tensions in the Middle East, even as he maintained that Kenya’s economy remains stable and on track despite external risks affecting many countries.

The CS was speaking on Thursday, April 2, 2026, during a meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Finance and Planning, where he outlined the country’s economic outlook and emerging threats.

Mbadi pointed out the growing instability in the global economy, warning that ongoing tensions in the Middle East are already putting pressure on key sectors such as energy, trade, and financial systems across the world.

“The global economic outlook is under pressure due to escalating Middle East tensions, with risks to energy markets, trade, and financial stability,” the statement reads.

“Kenya’s economy remains resilient, with growth projected at 5.3% in 2026 and 2027, supported by agriculture recovery, a strong services sector, and ongoing economic reforms.”