Lawyer Willis Otieno has sparked fresh debate after accusing Kenya’s political class of engaging in empty dialogue that never delivers meaningful change.
In a worded post on X, Otieno faulted successive governments for turning “national conversations” into political theatre, citing the Waki Report, the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC), the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), and the recent National Dialogue and Consensus (NADCO).
“Each promised renewal; none were implemented,” he wrote, adding that the country’s real challenge lies in the lack of political will to act on agreed reforms.
Otieno questioned why leaders keep forming new committees and task forces instead of addressing pressing issues such as restoring the EduAfya programme and lowering university fees.
“Do we require dialogue to restore EduAfya or to lower university fees?” he asked.
He also criticized the government’s reluctance to tackle corruption and recover stolen public funds.
“Must we convene another task force to recover public money stashed in offshore accounts?” he posed.
According to Otieno, dialogue has become a national sedative used to pacify citizens and delay justice.
“Kenyans are no longer fooled by performative consensus. The era of talking without acting must end,” he said.