Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga, has been accused of manipulating citizens with his calls for a  reform agenda following his remarks during the Saba Saba commemoration.

Speaking on Spice FM, Lawyer Duncan Okatch criticised the proposed constitutional reforms, suggesting they are used as a distraction from pressing issues and serve only as temporary solutions instead of long-term policies.

“We are in a culture of tokenism. The youth are given crumbs—cash giveaways and promises of houses—but what they truly need is infrastructure that fosters self-reliance. This tactic is short-sighted. Kenya needs long-term, sustainable development, not handouts that buy silence,” Okatch said.

Okatch argues that the government’s responsibility should be to create infrastructure that empowers citizens rather than binds them through political favours.

 He warned, “If we do not make concrete decisions to clean up our politics, we will continue to recycle promises, complaints, and suffering. Each generation, from the Mau Mau to Gen Z, will face the same challenges.”

He expressed concern that the country is stuck in a cycle of recycled promises, manipulated demonstrations, and tokenistic reforms, as evidenced by this year’s Saba Saba Day commemoration.

“We’re recycling promises, complaints, and suffering. Unless we change our political approach—stop using thugs, halt distractions like referendums, and start building systems that serve the people—future generations will inherit the same pain,” he emphasised.

Okatch noted that peaceful protests have increasingly been distorted into violence and chaos.

He believes political figures are exploiting disorder to control public narratives, often employing hired thugs or even elements within the police force to incite unrest.

He accused Odinga of playing mind games with his supporters, pointing out that Odinga had failed to show up at Kamukunji grounds after urging protesters to gather there.

“He asked protesters to convene at Kamukunji and claimed he’d take the lead. However, his message feels old. He’s like Father Christmas, handing out the same old gifts every year. The youth are no longer impressed,” Okatch remarked.

He contends that Odinga’s push for token reforms, which often follow protests, benefits politicians rather than ordinary Kenyans.

 “Whenever there’s unrest, Raila finds a way to turn it into something politically advantageous. After the last protests, his supporters landed lucrative government jobs, but did those actions address the issues raised by the youth? No,” he added.

Okatch stresses that the economic frustration, police brutality, and corruption raised by Gen Z have not been addressed meaningfully.

“Raila tried to take control of a Gen Z movement, but the youth have their own direction now. They’re not interested in outdated narratives; they want real solutions,” the lawyer said.

He believes that calls for a referendum stem from a long-standing obsession among political elites rather than a genuine effort to improve lives.

 “The President never supported this Constitution and still wants to centralize power. The opposition seeks a powerful premiership. But what ordinary Kenyans need are practical solutions, not a constitutional overhaul,” he explained.

These concerns surfaced a day after Kenyans observed the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba Day, during which Odinga called for significant reforms in the police force and proposed a national conclave to address the grievances of the Kenyans.

“I propose an inclusive, intergenerational national conclave to listen to our people across all divides and develop essential reforms needed to move the country forward. The conclave should focus on creating better and more sustainable methods for ensuring transparency, accountability, and addressing corruption—especially in holding leaders accountable for their actions,” said Odinga.