Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has accused the Kenyan government of using the country’s public debt audit as a political maneuver to stall reforms and avoid transparency.
In a statement on Thursday, May 8, Omtatah criticized the state’s response to a public debt petition, calling it a deliberate attempt to shield the truth and stall real accountability.
“The government’s response to our public debt petition is not about transparency,” Omtatah said. “It’s about shielding the truth and stalling real accountability.”
According to Omtatah, the government has announced that the Auditor General will conduct a comprehensive audit of public debt spanning from 1965 to 2024.
Omtatah on Kenya’s Debt Audit
He dismissed the move as a “smokescreen,” arguing that the law already requires annual audits that have not been disclosed.
“The Constitution, Article 229(4)(g), mandates the Auditor General to audit and report on public debt every financial year and submit those reports within six months after the financial year ends,” he stated.
“That means we should already have debt audit reports for each year from 2014 to 2024,” he further added.
Instead of complying with this constitutional requirement, Omtatah said, the government is now presenting a historical audit that he claims will only serve to confuse the public and delay much-needed financial reforms.
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“This narrative of a 1965–2024 mega audit is a distraction, meant to confuse and delay justice,” he said. “It’s not a solution; it’s a weak cover-up.”
A Call for Transparency
Omtatah’s comments came amid growing public frustration over the country’s debt burden. Citizens have expressed increasing concern over high taxes, poor public services and opaque debt management practices.
“Kenyans are not fooled,” Omtatah said. “We are overtaxed, underserviced, and constantly misled.”
Additionally, he urged citizens to demand the release of the annual debt audit reports as required by law and resist efforts to derail the pursuit of fiscal accountability.
“Our journey towards fiscal justice and accountability remains steadfast,” Omtatah said. “We will not be distracted. We will not back down.”
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The Office of the Auditor General has yet to respond publicly to Omtatah’s remarks.
Status of Kenya’s Public Debt
Early March 12, 2025, the Government reported to have paid Ksh116.3 billion ($900 million) Eurobond debt.
At the same time, the national treasury borrowed Ksh193.5 billion ($1.5 billion) set to mature in 2036 with a 9.5% interest rate.
The move was part of a bigger plan to enable the government to extend its repayment obligations by replacing the old debt with the new 2036 bond.
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