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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Senator Omtatah eyes presidency, forms committee for 2027 elections

Politics

By Irene Githinji | Nov 25, 2024

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, the newest presidential hopeful in town. Omtatah, a playwright, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most prominent litigious activists, now considered a public defender after successfully contesting several high-profile cases in court, often on his own.

A government critic par excellence, Omtatah is not a lawyer, but the corridors of the courts are likely familiar with his presence, given the significant amount of time he has spent there.

Even after being elected as Busia Senator in 2022, Omtatah continues to find time to champion the cause of the voiceless by contesting unpopular laws in court.

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One of the most memorable moments from his early days of activism was when he chained himself outside Vigilance House along Harambee Avenue to protest police excesses in the country.

Back then, little known to most Kenyans, he threw away the key to the chain, only to be removed by police and locked away, only to return after being released.

This marked the beginning of his shift towards legal activism.

Omtatah was born and raised in Busia. After completing his A-levels at Tudunyo College, he chose to study philosophy at St Augustine Major Seminary in Bungoma instead of pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce at the University of Nairobi (UoN), where he had been admitted.

Omtatah, who still wears his rosary frequently, was once on the brink of a career in the priesthood before becoming a well-known human rights activist.

“I was admitted to UoN, but my priestly calling was very strong, so I declined the offer and joined St Augustine’s to study philosophy,” he previously shared.

His journey has not been without difficulties. For instance, in March this year, Omtatah was attacked by a group of young men after leaving a Busia court.

He was stoned while driving, and his vehicle’s window was broken. He sought cover at a nearby Agricultural Training Centre.

‘‘Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. I’m okay, and I thank God for life,” he said in a statement on X.

Despite such challenges, Omtatah has forged his path and now sets a precedent by gazetting a 10-member committee to assess his chances of running for president in the 2027 General Election.

According to the Senator, the country is at a critical juncture, and the call to serve has never been more urgent. After careful consideration and consultations with his advisors, community leaders, and citizens, he announced the formation of the presidential exploratory committee, which will thoroughly assess the viability of his candidacy.

“Its primary focus will be to engage with the public, gather input on the most pressing challenges facing our nation, and determine how best to address these issues with bold and innovative leadership. The road ahead requires thoughtful preparation, and this exploratory phase is a crucial step in ensuring that our vision for the future aligns with the hopes and aspirations of Kenyans,” he said.

He added: “I am committed to listening, learning, and building a platform that reflects the values and priorities of our citizens.”

In an interview with The Standard yesterday, Omtatah said that he has taken significant steps to establish the exploratory committee and is eager to see what actions are needed to succeed in this endeavour. The committee will eventually provide its verdict.

While Omtatah’s group is associated with the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) party, he emphasised that the priority is to build a movement and platform. “We have a party, but it’s not the most important thing right now. We want to focus on building the movement and the platform we will push. These days, parties are often just vehicles for seeking public office, but we want to create a proper policy framework first. The NRA party is the one I used to get to Parliament, and a few others used it to become Members of the County Assembly.”

For the Senator, the most crucial issue is to establish a policy framework and focus on what they want to do if Kenyans give them the opportunity.

“Many people have asked me to run, including Gen Z, but most importantly, I have always fought for good governance, and I feel things are getting worse. The courts are falling back into old habits, siding with the Executive. There is a real need to intervene and implement the Constitution properly, because even the courts have started to distort it,” he said.