Willis Otieno sustains criticism over planned privatisation of national assets
By Kiprono Keileb, October 21, 2025Lawyer and political commentator Willis Otieno has sharply criticised the government over what he terms an aggressive and dangerous privatisation spree, warning that the trend is pushing the country toward state collapse.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Otieno accused the administration of selling off public assets at an unprecedented rate, comparing the scale of the ongoing privatisation to the policies of the apartheid government in South Africa.
“It is under this regime that we have seen the privatisation of state-owned entities at a large scale, much higher than that of the apartheid government in S.A.,” he stated.
Otieno, who has been a consistent critic of the government’s economic direction, said the move represents a worrying shift that could weaken national institutions and erode public control over key sectors. He described the privatisation drive as “a trail of privatisation that is so aggressive,” adding that such actions are stripping away the foundation of the state.
According to him, the government’s rush to offload public corporations and services is not a sign of reform but rather a dangerous dismantling of the very systems meant to serve citizens. “The collapse of the state is taking shape under this regime,” he warned.
His remarks come at a time when debate over the privatisation of several state corporations has intensified, with sections of the public expressing concern that essential assets could end up in private hands without proper oversight.
His warning adds to the growing list of voices urging the government to slow down and protect key state institutions from being lost to private interests. For Otieno, the issue is not only economic but moral, a reflection of how governance choices today could define the country’s stability in years to come.
As he summed up, his message was clear: unchecked privatisation risks tearing apart the very structure that holds Kenya together.