Lawyer Willis Otieno has publicly criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration for what he describes as a rapid and opaque privatisation of state-owned enterprises.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, Otieno highlighted that several national assets, built over decades through public resources, are being sold without sufficient oversight or public input.
Otieno said that the process resembles liquidation rather than reform, citing “rushed timelines, suppressed valuation debates, minimal public participation, and an executive-heavy process that sidelines Parliament and the public.”
He warned that such measures could undermine accountability in managing state resources.
The lawyer’s statement comes amid a broader government push to restructure and privatise several public enterprises.
While the Kenya Kwanza administration has defended these reforms as necessary for efficiency and attracting investment, Otieno emphasised the importance of transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Historically, state-owned enterprises in Kenya have played a critical role in national development, including energy, transport, and industrial sectors.
Past experiences, such as the partial privatisation of Kenya Airways and the controversial sale of some parastatals in the 1990s and 2000s, underscore the need for rigorous oversight and parliamentary scrutiny in such processes.
Otieno also stressed that public debate on asset valuations and potential socio-economic impacts has been limited.
He noted that accelerated sales without adequate consultation could affect employment, revenue generation, and strategic national interests.