Willis Otieno: Regime tells us to tighten belts as they fly in private jets

Lawyer and political commentator Willis Evans Otieno has sharply criticised the Kenyan government, claiming that the country is being run like a cartel.

In a scathing statement posted on X on Friday, July 18, 2025, Otieno accused the current regime of mismanaging key sectors and neglecting the needs of ordinary citizens.

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“Health sector – dead. Education sector – dead. Agriculture – abandoned… Freedom of protest – criminalized. Wages – frozen. Corruption – promoted. Leadership – missing in action,” Otieno posted, painting a bleak picture of the nation’s current state.

He went on to slam the government’s insensitivity to public suffering.

“The regime dares tell us to tighten our belts while they fly in private jets and mock our pain.”

Otieno’s remarks come amid growing frustration among Kenyans, especially the youth, over the rising cost of living, unemployment, and unfulfilled promises. Despite the government’s recent pledges, including over 110,000 new jobs under the Climate Worx programme and President Ruto’s declaration that Kenya is now among Africa’s top six economies, critics argue that little has changed on the ground.

Youth demand real solutions

The youth, who make up the majority of the population, have also been a major force in recent protests, voicing their discontent with heavy taxation and limited economic opportunities. While President Ruto maintains that initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Project and labour mobility schemes have already benefited nearly a million young people, many believe these programmes are either politicised or inaccessible.

Otieno’s outburst reflects a wider sentiment among Kenyans who feel let down by leadership and frustrated by the gap between government rhetoric and lived reality.

As the country edges closer to the 2027 general elections, the pressure is mounting on both the government and the opposition to offer real solutions to the issues facing ordinary citizens, especially the youth, who increasingly feel that they have been left behind.