Lawyer Willis Otieno has called for a comprehensive review of Kenya’s public debt, urging a shift in fiscal discussions from what he terms emotional rhetoric to structural honesty in the management of public finances.

In a statement shared on his X account on Friday, June 12, 2026, Otieno said Kenya’s budget conversation must now focus on transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes in debt utilisation and public expenditure.

“The fiscal conversation in Kenya must shift from emotional rhetoric to structural honesty,” Otieno said.

Debt audit and transparency push

Otieno is calling for what he describes as a full forensic audit of public debt, covering every loan and project to determine how borrowed funds have been utilised.

“Conduct a full forensic audit of public debt; loan by loan, project by project,” he stated.

He further urged the government to publish a clear and verifiable record of how public borrowing has been spent and whether it has translated into productive national assets.

“Publish a transparent, verifiable account of every shilling borrowed and how it translated or failed to translate into productive assets,” he added.

Call for spending reforms

Otieno also proposed a review of government expenditure, targeting what he termed non-essential spending, duplicated agencies and inflated administrative costs.

“Eliminate non-essential government expenditure, starting with duplicated agencies and inflated administrative costs,” he said.

He further called for strict austerity measures at the highest levels of government, arguing that fiscal discipline must begin from the Executive to restore public confidence.

Budget credibility concerns

According to Otieno, without these reforms, the 2026/27 Budget risks losing its meaning as a development framework.

“Without these reforms, Budget 2026/27 is not an economic framework, it is an accounting exercise designed to legitimize continued extraction from an already overburdened citizenry,” he said.

Rutto warning on debt pressure

His remarks come amid growing concern over Kenya’s fiscal position, with leaders warning that rising debt obligations are tightening policy space and increasing the likelihood of new taxation measures.

Kesses MP Julius Rutto has warned that Kenya’s debt burden is already limiting fiscal flexibility, saying the country has little room to avoid additional taxes due to fixed expenditure commitments.

“The public is saying they do not need additional taxes,” Rutto said, noting that debt repayment obligations remain unavoidable within the national budget structure.

He added that a significant portion of government resources is already absorbed by debt servicing and domestic borrowing requirements, leaving limited fiscal space for development priorities.

“Our obligations have to be done,” he said.

Rutto further cautioned that the rising debt burden is reducing liquidity in the private sector, affecting business activity and economic circulation.