Where Is the Money? Lawyer Willis Otieno Tears Into President Ruto’s KSh4.25 Trillion Borrowing

Lawyer Willis Otieno has challenged President William Ruto’s administration to account for approximately KSh4.25 trillion added to Kenya’s public debt since taking office, questioning the tangible development projects funded through the massive borrowing.

Otieno argued that borrowing should be measured by the productive assets created and economic returns generated rather than the amount of money raised by the government.

Using the Thika Superhighway as an example, he said the approximately KSh32 billion project demonstrated how public borrowing could transform the economy when invested in productive infrastructure.

He noted that the highway continues to benefit businesses, farmers and commuters by reducing transportation costs, improving access to markets and saving travel time.

“That is what intelligent public borrowing looks like: you borrow, build an asset, expand economic activity and generate returns long after the money has been spent,” Otieno stated.

He, however, questioned what Kenyans could point to following the billions borrowed under Ruto’s administration.

“The question Kenyans must ask is simple: WHAT HAVE WE BUILT WITH ALL THIS DEBT?” he posed.

Otieno challenged the government to demonstrate investments in manufacturing, agriculture, energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks and human capital that could expand the country’s productive economy.

He maintained that borrowing was not inherently bad but warned against using loans to finance recurrent expenditure, waste and projects with little economic return.

“A government cannot keep presenting the amount of money borrowed as evidence of development,” he warned.

The lawyer further demanded accountability over the loans, insisting that Kenyans deserved to know how much had been borrowed, what assets had been created and what economic returns would enable future generations to repay the debt.

“You cannot mortgage the future of a nation and call the accumulation of liabilities economic transformation,” Otieno stated.

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