Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah adressing the press today at his Ofiices
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Kenya, September 11, 2026 — Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has called for a major rethink of Kenya’s public finances, saying the country cannot solve its fiscal problems by continually raising taxes and taking on more debt.
Omtatah said the Government needed to focus less on how much money it collects and borrows and more on what that money delivers to Kenyans.
In a statement issued on Friday, the senator proposed tighter control of public spending, greater transparency in debt management and stronger oversight of procurement as part of what he described as a necessary fiscal reset.
He also called for the protection of devolution and predictable government policies, arguing that public resources should be channelled towards productive sectors and essential services rather than excessive administrative costs and programmes driven by political considerations.
“Kenyans are not asking for miracles. They want food they can afford, jobs, firms that can survive, cheaper credit, working hospitals, reliable power, roads and water, honest use of taxes, and a government that lives within its means,” Omtatah said.
The senator’s criticism comes a day after the Senate suspended him for three sittings over remarks he made about President William Ruto.
Omtatah said the suspension would not change his position on the Government’s handling of the economy, arguing that criticism of public policy should remain part of democratic debate.
He accused the administration of presenting the country’s economic difficulties largely as a problem of inadequate taxation while failing to address what he considers deeper weaknesses in public spending and investment.
According to Omtatah, Kenya is not getting enough economic value from the money it raises through taxes or obtains through borrowing. He said too much of the country’s resources were going towards debt servicing and administration, leaving less for areas that could expand the productive economy.
He questioned the continued reliance on additional taxes, loans and emergency measures as solutions to economic difficulties.
“The answer cannot always be another tax, another loan, another bond, another ‘emergency,’ another U-turn, or another explanation. At some point government must produce results,” he said.
Omtatah acknowledged that President Ruto’s administration inherited economic difficulties but argued that the Government could not continue using the previous administration’s record to explain current challenges.
He also criticised policy reversals made after public pressure, saying changes in direction should not be presented as evidence of transformation.
Instead, he wants the Government to demonstrate measurable improvements in areas that directly affect households and businesses, including access to affordable credit, employment, infrastructure, public services and a more predictable business environment.
The senator said the country should also change how it measures economic progress.
Rather than focusing primarily on revenue collection, he argued that Government should assess whether public spending is creating productive capacity and improving the ability of citizens and businesses to generate income.
“Stop measuring success by how much money has been raised. Measure it by how much productive capacity has been created,” he said.
Omtatah also raised concerns about public procurement and debt management, calling for greater transparency in how public funds are committed and spent.
He said stronger independent oversight would be necessary to ensure that taxpayers receive value for money and that economic growth benefits ordinary citizens rather than being concentrated among government agencies, contractors and intermediaries.
His proposals come as the Government continues to balance the need to raise revenue against pressure from households and businesses over the cost of living and operating in the country.
Omtatah warned that continued borrowing and taxation without corresponding growth in productive capacity could leave Kenya caught in a cycle in which increased revenue is followed by higher debt repayments and renewed pressure to raise more money.
He said the country needed to break from that pattern by living within its means and directing a greater share of public resources towards investments capable of supporting long-term economic growth.
Despite his suspension, Omtatah said he would continue to speak on matters of public interest.
“I will serve the suspension. I will not serve the fiction,” he said.
The senator maintained that the suspension could limit his participation in Senate proceedings for the three sittings but would not prevent constitutional oversight institutions from examining how public finances are managed.
He said Kenya’s fiscal problems would ultimately have to be addressed through policy choices rather than political messaging.
For Omtatah, the test of the Government’s economic record should therefore be whether Kenyans can see tangible improvements in their daily lives, businesses can operate sustainably and the country can reduce its dependence on borrowing.
He warned that political change alone would not erase the country’s debt burden or the consequences of decisions made on public finances.
“An election will not wash a U-turn — or a debt stock — clean,” Omtatah said.
