Lawyer and governance advocate Willis Otieno has raised concerns over the state of the economy, saying many Kenyans are struggling despite working hard every day. He pointed to growing inequality and called for urgent reforms to ensure fairness and opportunity for all.

In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Otieno described an economic system that he says has been taken over by a small group of powerful individuals, leaving ordinary citizens behind.

“The economy isn’t broken; it’s been captured by a powerful few who profit while millions of hardworking Kenyans struggle just to get by. For too long, our nation’s wealth has flowed upward, siphoned off into the hands of the connected, the privileged, and the untouchable. Meanwhile, the small farmer, the hustler, the teacher, the artisan, the true engine of this country, are left to fight over scraps,” he wrote.

He explained that the current situation has made it difficult for small businesses, workers, and farmers to thrive, calling for deliberate steps to open up opportunities and remove barriers that favour only a few.

“It’s time to release our economy from the grip of monopoly and corruption. We must break the chains that keep opportunity locked away from ordinary Kenyans and build a system that rewards effort, innovation, and honesty, not insider connections. When money moves freely among the people, when credit reaches small businesses, when fair wages meet real work, when taxation is just and transparent, our economy will come alive again,” he wrote.

Otieno further called for a shift towards a more inclusive economic model that supports communities and restores hope among citizens who feel locked out of economic progress. He urged leaders to focus on policies that uplift ordinary people across both urban and rural areas.

“Let us ignite a nationwide economic revival rooted in fairness, enterprise, and community. Because when we free the economy, we don’t just grow numbers; we restore dignity, hope, and the Kenyan dream for every citizen, from the city streets to the rural heartlands,” his statement reads.