Willis Otieno: Parliament has become cowards’ den
By Joel Masibo, November 16, 2025Political analyst and city lawyer Willis Otieno has described the National Assembly as a coward’s den after apparently failing to speak for the people.
In remarks shared across his X platform on Sunday, November 16, 2025, Otieno has accused Members of Parliament of betraying their constitutional mandate in exchange for political favours from the Executive.
According to Otieno, Parliament has drifted far from its identity as the House of the people. Instead, he argues, it has transformed into “a coward’s den” populated by MPs who have “traded their spines for State House handshakes and brown envelopes.”
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His criticism paints a picture of a legislature that no longer holds the government to account and instead acts as a compliant arm of the executive.
Coward’s den
”Parliament today is not a House of the People, but it is a coward’s den, packed with MPs who have willingly traded their spines for State House handshakes and brown envelopes. Instead of oversight, they offer applause. Instead of scrutiny, they offer silence. Instead of courage, they offer belly-crawling obedience,” Otieno argued.
Otieno’s concerns rest on three major accusations. First, he claims that MPs have abandoned meaningful oversight.
Rather than interrogating new policies, budget allocations, or executive actions, he says they now offer applause where they should raise questions.
The watchdog role meant to protect public interest has, in his view, been reduced to ceremonial approval.
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Secondly, he faults MPs for rushing through bills without reading or understanding them. He points to the passage of controversial tax laws and unfamiliar loan agreements as indicators of a Parliament that is legislating blindly, leaving Kenyans to shoulder the consequences of decisions made without proper scrutiny.
Otieno’s criticism
His third criticism is directed at what he describes as the political class’s fear of the presidency. According to Otieno, many lawmakers now fear displeasing the Executive more than violating the Constitution or disappointing their voters.
”They ram through oppressive taxes without reading the bills, approve toxic loans they cannot even pronounce, and clap like trained seals for policies that choke the same wananchi whose votes they begged for like hungry street preachers,” Willis Otieno stated.
Otieno’s fiery remarks are consistent with his ongoing critique of political leadership in Kenya for failing to fix fundamental national challenges ranging from healthcare to economic stability.
”These MPs do not fear God or the Constitution; they fear the President. They have become political tenants, renting their loyalty to the highest bidder while the country bleeds,” he added.
