Okiya Omtatah excites, rattles many as he readies for Ruto face off in 2027

In him, Kenyans had long established a man of good morals, a virtuous, noble leader unencumbered by the political rot, corruption and the kind of wicked skulduggery which has characterised Kenyan politics since the 1960s.

For over a decade now, Omtatah has made his intentions clear - fighting for the masses, stopping government excesses, adhering to the rule of law, honouring political ideals and curbing government embezzlement.

He has, for all those years, done it alone, without necessarily drawing attention to himself and certainly, without expecting an immediate reward, either in monetary form or mass worship from the people he has so steadfastly championed for.

Helplessly litigious, Omtatah knew from the onset the power of the courts and he made it his mission to keep the magistrates as busy as humanly possible, appearing to singlehandedly challenge virtually every nefarious government policy, idea or decree and willing to take the fight right into the corridors of the Supreme Court. 

Despite the insanely high legal fees, he never once sought the financial help of the masses - he, for the most part, would eschew a lawyer, choosing to represent himself in court and, in extreme cases, pinch into his own measly wallet to foot the bills.

As things go in Kenya, his selflessness and stubborn rattling of the authorities would often be matched by vicious State brutality, at some point, even losing ten teeth and suffering a fractured skull at the hands of sponsored goons.

The country's number one defender was also often not short of street showmanship - in 2008, he famously chained himself to the Vigilance House fence just to drive a point home. The ensuing photo is the perfect emblem of a man tirelessly in love with his homeland, Kenya.

So, it came as no surprise when the Busia Senator made clear his intention to vie for the highest office on the land - taking an unprecedented step, the Senator set up a committee to explore his viability, gauge his potential to garner popular support (50 per cent plus one required to win the presidency), explore possible alliances to cobble together a winning coalition, and whether he would run on a political party ticket or as an independent.

His surprise announcement immediately rattled the internet, ultimately sending shockwaves across the political class and suddenly unsettling the political equilibrium.

Many were quick to pontificate - while the overwhelming majority of Kenyans gladly welcomed the news, with many lauding him for taking the massive step, some, especially politicians and political commentators, were quick to tell him off, some even downplaying his viability due to one obvious factor - his pockets.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei was one of the first people who poked holes into Omtatah's potentiality.

He tweeted: "To my brother and colleague Senator Okiya Omtatah, while I wish you well in your Presidential bid, there are few things you need to be aware of, to run a successful presidential campaign you need a minimum of Ksh7 billion; a voting bloc that’s established; grassroots network that isn’t even aware of social media existence or hype."

He added, "To vie against H.E William Ruto is a tall order who outwitted and outsmarted the government candidate Raila Odinga in the 2022 General Election."

On the Jeff Koinange Live show, on Wednesday, November 27, COTU Sec-Gen Francis Atwoli also joined the anti-Omtatah bandwagon, brashly telling off the Senator while also brazenly questioning his financial muscle.

"If he came to me, I would tell him, 'Let me see your budget. Are you going to depend on well-wishers, or what do you have as a person?'" Atwoli said.

When you're running for a political position, you must have saved. The world over, nobody wants to be associated with a poor person."

It was a painful, even brutal, piece of advice, but Omtatah took it all in his stride.

He simply responded: "Leadership is about vision, integrity, and the will to serve. Ordinary Kenyans, not wealth or privilege, are the backbone of any true movement for change. We will prove that a people-powered campaign can inspire hope and deliver a better future for all."

A stickler for political order and constitutional righteousness, Omtatah appears unfazed by the avalanche of dismissive attacks flying from all corners, simply touting his gospel of respect for the rule of law and full implementation of the 2010 constitution.

Speaking earlier this week, he said, “Our agenda is centred on the total implementation of the Constitution. It’s a powerful tool for modernising this country."

“Specific chapters, particularly on public finances, provide clear guidance, but political will has been missing, making the Constitution appear ineffective.”

He also emphasised the importance of a people-driven campaign, adding that it would not rely on huge financial resources but instead focus on engaging Kenyans in meaningful discussions.

Even as the conversation around his candidature continues to ruffle the internet, with some soft-pedalling his political might and others wholeheartedly throwing their weight behind him, Omtatah appears to be firmly fixed on not just clinching the highest seat but also unshackling Kenyans from the yoke of misrule.

He may lack the billions required to mount a successful campaign, he may also lack powerful connections from the nation's barons, he may lack the sort of political strongholds some are touting, or even a shutter proof grassroots network, but one thing Omtatah definitely doesn't lack is grit, political goodwill, a dedicated team and sheer tenacity.