Willis Otieno slams Itumbi over inflation remarks
By Cynthia Lodite, August 18, 2025Lawyer Willis Otieno has come out strongly against digital strategist Dennis Itumbi, accusing him of misleading Kenyans with false inflation data to paint a rosy economic picture.
Willis Otieno reacted on Monday, August 18, 2025, on his official X account following a tweet Denis Itumbi made on Sunday, August 17, 2025, stating the prices of commodities in the country after President William Ruto’s administration took power.
On his part, Willis reacted to Itumbi’s claim that the price of unga (maize flour) had dropped to between Ksh99 and Ksh130. Otieno dismissed the figures as “economic propaganda,” arguing they do not reflect the actual prices consumers are paying in the open market, where unga retails at around Ksh170.
“What you are doing is economic propaganda, not statistics. Prices are determined by market forces: supply, demand, taxation, import costs, and exchange rate. If unga is retailing at Ksh170 in the open market, you can’t quote Ksh99–130; that’s misrepresentation of consumer reality,” Willis wrote.
Similarly, Willis Otieno, while warning Itumbi against misleading Kenyans with matters of economic data, also noted that manipulating inflation data undermines sound fiscal and monetary policy and robs citizens of their ability to hold the government accountable.
“Inflation doesn’t disappear because you cooked numbers for the President. In fact, by hiding the truth, you distort fiscal policy, you mislead monetary planning, and you deny Kenyans the ability to hold government accountable. Tell the man the real consumer price index not this fiction,” he added.
Worth noting, in his tweet, Itumbi highlighted prices of commodities in the Country while comparing the current prices under President William Ruto’s government to the previous regime.
“1KG Sugar – Ksh155 from Ksh220 Unga – Ksh99-130 from Ksh240 1kg Rice – Ksh100-120 from Ksh180 2.5m Iron sheet – Ksh 800 from Ksh1250. Fertilizer – Ksh2500 from Ksh7000,” Itumbi wrote.
Ruto’s promise of lowering commodities
Meanwhile, as the rising cost of living remains a key issue for households in Kenya, their remarks come months after President William Ruto made his remarks on reducing the cost of living as he marked his second year in office.
When he ascended to power, President Ruto pledged to lower the cost of living, at one point stating that he would bring down the price of commodities on the day he took the oath of office.
“Nikiweka biblia chini, bei ya unga itateremka…” Ruto said in a previous statement while campaigning.
Likewise, Ruto, however, reiterated that his administration would subsidise production of fertilisers rather than consumption.
“We are already implementing the programs that will deal with the cost of living. The fertiliser will be set at Ksh2,500. Farmers are doing a great job,” said the president of production subsidies.