Lawyer Willis Otieno has challenged the government’s narrative on Kenya’s economic progress ahead of President William Ruto’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) scheduled for today.
Posting on X, Otieno said a meaningful SONA should reflect the realities Kenyans face in their daily lives.
“A SONA is not measured by motorcades, groundbreakings, or foreign trips,” he wrote. “It is measured by whether families can afford food, whether young people can get jobs, whether mothers can deliver safely, whether children can attend school without being sent home for fees, and whether citizens can speak freely without harassment.”
Otieno added that on all these metrics, Kenya is “falling backwards,” noting that while the government emphasizes national growth, ordinary citizens are struggling with high fuel prices and rising living costs.
His remarks echo a Standard newspaper report criticizing past addresses as largely symbolic, disconnected from the struggles of 13 million households facing hunger, insecurity, and gaps in essential services.
Economic analysts point out that macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP growth, often mask household-level difficulties, particularly inflation and unemployment.
Otieno’s statement highlights the expectation that the President’s address should address these pressing concerns.
The SONA, delivered from Parliament, traditionally outlines government priorities for the coming year.
Citizens and political commentators will be watching closely to see whether President Ruto directly addresses household hardships, including jobs, healthcare, and education access.
Otieno’s call comes amid growing public debate over whether national policies are translating into tangible improvements for ordinary Kenyans, underlining a wider demand for leadership that engages with daily realities rather than ceremonial displays.