Willis Otieno dismisses State House empowerment as circus for cameras
By Mustafa Juma, August 12, 2025Lawyer and political commentator Willis Otieno has criticised a recent State House economic empowerment programme, dismissing it as a staged show meant for public relations rather than genuine empowerment.
Taking to his official X account on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Otieno said what was portrayed as an empowerment initiative amounted to nothing more than “a circus for cameras.”
He accused the organisers of offering “a few tokens handed to a few faces” while the majority were sent home with empty promises.
“What you saw at State House was not empowerment; it was a circus for cameras. A few tokens are handed to a few faces while the rest are told, “Go home, it will be brought,” yet it never comes,” Otieno stated.
State House event
President William Ruto over the weekend hosted hundreds of youths drawn from different parts of Nairobi at the State House.
Speaking during the event on Saturday, August 9, 2025, President Ruto stated that the house on the hill is now more accessible to ordinary Kenyans, reflecting his administration’s focus on inclusivity.
Additionally, he dismissed accusations that he had lowered the institution’s standards.
“There is someone who said that I have lowered the State House’s standard. I have just invited the mere citizen to come to the State House. Every person matters for equality in Kenya,” he stated.
Furthermore, the head of state shared how visitors have been surprised by the diversity of people now visiting the State House.
“Unajua hapa State House, zamani waliokuwa wanakuja ni wale wadosi tu,” he explained. Juzi kuna jamaa mmoja alikuja hapa; wakati alirudi akasema nimeenda pale State House, lakini huyu rais amezusha sana kiwango, kwa sababu siku hizi watu walioko pale ni watu tu hivi hivi. Lakini siku hizi, hata bodaboda wako around. Na hakuna makosa. Kwani iko makosa? Hakuna makosa.“
Loosely interpreted as;
“You know, the only people who used to come to the State House in the past were just rich people. The other day, there was a person who came here, and when they went back, they said that the President has lowered the standard because nowadays it accommodates ordinary people. But nowadays, even Boda Boda come around, and there is no problem. Is there a problem? And there’s nothing wrong with that,” he stated.
Further, Ruto has stated that 10,000 Kenyans borrow from the hustler fund kitty every day and repay their loans on time.