Lawyer and political commentator Willis Otieno has taken a swipe at Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, describing him as the embodiment of Kenya’s legacy politics.

Taking to his official X account on Monday, September 1, 2025, Otieno accused Mudavadi of holding top government positions for decades without delivering meaningful development to his people.

“Legacy politicians in Kenya are those who’ve sat in power for decades, moving from one title to another like musical chairs, but leaving very little trace of actual progress behind,” Otieno wrote.

Mudavadi’s political career

He pointed to Mudavadi’s 36-year career in public office, claiming that despite occupying “every big office you can think of”, his home county is only now receiving its first X-ray machine.

“They inherit positions, recycle themselves in every regime, and survive on name recognition rather than tangible delivery. Their careers are a museum of titles, not a record of transformation. Mudavadi is the perfect case study: 36 years, every big office you can think of, but his home county is only now seeing its first x-ray machine. That is the tragedy of legacy politics,” he stated.

To drive the point home, Otieno accompanied his post with Mudavadi’s 1997 campaign poster for the Sabatia constituency under the then-ruling KANU party, calling it symbolic of recycled politics that thrive on name recognition rather than service delivery.

Havi slams Mudavadi

Otieno joins former Law Society (LSK) of Kenya President Nelson Havi, who has also declared that Mudavadi’s political time is up, urging residents of Western Kenya to demand better leadership.

Speaking in a TV interview on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Havi dismissed Mudavadi’s claim that African presidents typically serve 10 years, questioning the logic behind it and urging the people not to accept what he described as “nonsense”.

“Which Africa is he talking about? Is Zambia not Africa? Is Ghana not Africa? Let’s not clap for his statements when he says such things. Instead, stand up and send him home,” Havi stated firmly.

He further called on voters in Vihiga, Kakamega, Maragoli, and Trans Nzoia to reject what he described as recycled leadership, stressing that the region deserved a fresh start.