Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has sharply criticized the government’s handling of Kenya’s public debt audit, accusing it of avoiding transparency and delaying accountability.

In a statement issued on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the outspoken lawmaker dismissed the government’s announcement that the Auditor General would conduct a comprehensive audit of public debt from 1965 to 2024, calling the move a “distraction” from the real issue—ongoing lack of annual public debt reports as required by the Constitution.

“The government’s response to our public debt petition is not about transparency,” Omtatah said..

“It’s about shielding the truth and stalling real accountability.”

Citing Article 229(4)(g) of the Constitution, Omtatah stated that the Auditor General is mandated to audit and report on public debt each financial year, and submit the report within six months after the year ends.

The government’s reponse to our public debt petition is not about transparency. It’s about shielding the truth and stalling real accountability.
Now, they claim the Auditor General is auditing public debt from 1965 to 2024. But this is nothing more than an attempt to distract,… pic.twitter.com/arJAUYD4sB

— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) May 8, 2025

“That means we should already have debt audit reports for each year from 2014 to 2024,” he added.

He argued that the new ‘mega audit’ announcement is not a solution but an attempt to delay justice, distract the public, and cover up years of non-compliance.

“This narrative of a 1965–2024 mega audit is a distraction, meant to confuse and delay justice. It’s not a solution; it’s a weak cover-up,” he said.

Mounting frustration

Omtatah’s comments come amid growing public frustration over Kenya’s debt levels, high taxation, and underwhelming service delivery.

“Kenyans are not fooled. We are overtaxed, underserviced, and constantly misled,” he said, urging citizens to remain vigilant and demand release of constitutionally required audit reports.

He added that Kenyans must not be distracted from pursuing fiscal justice, saying, “We will not back down.”

Debt restructuring

Omtatah’s remarks follow recent government actions to manage its public debt burden. On March 12, 2025, Kenya paid Ksh116.3 billion ($900 million) toward its maturing Eurobond obligations. At the same time, the National Treasury secured a Ksh193.5 billion ($1.5 billion) loan set to mature in 2036 with an annual interest rate of 9.5%.

The refinancing was part of a broader plan to restructure debt by replacing short-term obligations with longer-term instruments. However, critics like Omtatah argue that such moves must be accompanied by full transparency and proper public oversight.

The Office of the Auditor General has not yet issued a formal response to the concerns raised by the Senator.