Willis Otieno: Kenya’s answer to corruption is public service reform, not mass dismissals
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 10, 2026Constitutional lawyer and Safina deputy party leader Willis Otieno has called for sweeping reforms in Kenya’s public service, arguing that the country’s fight against corruption should focus on fixing broken institutions rather than pursuing blanket dismissals of public officers.
In a statement on his X handle on Friday, July 10, 2026, Otieno acknowledged the growing public frustration over corruption in government but cautioned against treating all public servants as culpable. He said many teachers, nurses, doctors, police officers, soldiers, and civil servants continue to serve the country with professionalism and integrity despite the challenges within the system.
“The real issue is not that every public officer is corrupt. It is that the system often fails to reward honesty and punish wrongdoing,” Otieno said.
Calls for comprehensive reforms
Otieno argued that Kenya requires a comprehensive overhaul of the public service to strengthen accountability and restore public confidence in state institutions.
Among the reforms he proposed are merit-based recruitment and promotion, competitive remuneration for public officers, lifestyle audits targeting senior government officials, transparent digital procurement systems, stronger internal oversight mechanisms, faster prosecution of corruption cases, enhanced protection for whistleblowers and the removal of officers found guilty of corruption or abuse of office.
Otieno has maintained that such measures would address the structural weaknesses that enable corruption to thrive instead of unfairly targeting honest public servants.
Protection of honest officers
The lawyer said the objective should be to build institutions where integrity becomes the norm rather than the exception.
He emphasised that lasting success in the fight against corruption will depend on creating systems that consistently reward ethical conduct while ensuring those who engage in corruption are held accountable.
“The goal should be to build institutions where integrity is the rule, not the exception. Reform the system, remove the corrupt, protect the honest, and make public service accountable to the people. That is a lasting solution,” Otieno said.
His remarks come amid renewed public debate over corruption in government and growing calls for greater accountability across public institutions, with many Kenyans demanding stronger action against officials implicated in graft while also seeking reforms that improve the efficiency and credibility of the public service.