Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has sparked a fresh public debate by boldly claiming that Kenya has no public debt.
His controversial remarks come just days after he filed a petition at the High Court targeting both President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta over the country’s financial management.
Speaking at a Bunge la Wananchi (People’s Parliament) forum on Saturday, April 19, Omtatah dismissed the common narrative that Kenya is burdened with unsustainable debt.
He challenged government officials and financial leaders to provide concrete proof if they insist the country is in a deep debt crisis.
“I want to state clearly here today that Kenya does not have any debt. We have already paid what was owed, yet they keep insisting that we still owe money,” Omtatah told a crowd that had gathered to listen to him on Saturday.
He went further to question the basis of the alleged national debt, asking, “We want transparency on this money they claim we owe.
Those involved must come forward and explain what kind of business they engaged in under the name of public borrowing.”
His recent comments echoed a similar passionate argument he had posted earlier on social media, where he raised concerns about what he called an unconstitutional change to the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act in 2014.
According to Omtatah, this amendment was passed without the involvement of the Senate, which he says goes against Article 110 of the Kenyan Constitution.
Omtatah alleges that the controversial 2014 amendment gave the National Treasury unchecked powers, allowing officials to secretly open foreign accounts and take on loans without proper public participation or parliamentary oversight.
He believes this move opened doors to misuse of public funds and questionable borrowing practices.
Even though Omtatah’s comments stirred strong reactions, it’s still unclear whether he was being entirely literal or using irony to criticize how government officials handle the debt narrative. What is certain, however, is that Kenya’s public debt is widely reported and acknowledged both locally and internationally.
For example, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has consistently recognized that Kenya carries a heavy debt load.
However, he maintains that the government is actively working on managing it. According to Mbadi, the current public debt stands at approximately Ksh11 trillion.
He further explained that plans are underway to bring down the debt-to-GDP ratio to 52.8% by the 2027/28 financial year, a reduction from the current 58.1%.
Adding to the conversation, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro recently raised concern that Kenya might be heading towards defaulting on its loans.
His remarks were quickly refuted by Treasury CS Mbadi, who assured the public that Kenya is on track to becoming debt-free by the year 2032.
“In conclusion, I want to appeal to all leaders to be more responsible in their statements. I heard one of us saying the country is heading towards disaster. Such remarks are reckless and should not come from someone who has chaired the Budget and Appropriations Committee,” Mbadi stated firmly.
Meanwhile, Omtatah’s claim that Kenya has no debt seems to reflect more than just numbers—it points to a larger call for transparency and accountability. He has long accused the government of hiding crucial financial information from the public.
In the legal petition he filed against President Ruto and former President Kenyatta, Omtatah argues that Kenya’s public debt is not only questionable but also illegitimate. He believes ordinary citizens should not be forced to repay what he calls unlawful or misused loans.
“This is about protecting Kenya’s future,” the Senator said on April 15 after sharing a 22-page summary of his court petition. “We are building a new era of transparency. We’re demanding honesty and accountability from our leaders, for the benefit of every single Kenyan.”
Through his bold statements and legal action, Omtatah is positioning himself as a champion of public accountability and financial justice, pushing the nation to rethink how public resources are managed and reported.
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