OMTATAH: THE HERO IN US!

Courtesy Image//: *Senator Omtatah braving Teargas during the 2024 GenZ Protest*

Public Defender Number One, OKOITI ANDREW OMTATAH, has succeeded in occupying a special place in many Kenyans’ heart. His commitment and sacrifice for ‘Better Kenya’ is beyond call of duty- doing more than what Kenyans require or expect him to do.

By faithfully implanting himself in the corridors of justice, the Busia Senator has induced a sense of hope to those that look up to him, but also made enemies with those that feel he is overstepping his freedom.

The 60 years old Legislator is genuinely fighting for us -Kenyans. His patriotism is second to none. He is A HERO IN US and to most of us. We all fought but couldn’t reach even half the battles Andrew has waged on our behalf.

What we are called to do as Kenyans now is just to support him; beginning with always praying for his safety and good health. He is a man of the Kenyan people unlike the satirical Chief Nanga of Odili in Chinua Achebe’s novel.

I know Omtatah has detractors obsessed to describe him as a serial litigant with unending determination to derail the government’s agenda.

Courtesy Image//: *Human Rights Activist and Busia Senator in Court to quash Appropriation Bill, 2024*

But in the eyes of Kenyans, Omtatah, the current Busia Senator, is a HERO IN US who has proven more than capable of checking the government’s excesses.

Okoiti Omtatah chained himself on a fence at Police Headquarters at Vigilante House in Nairobi, January 17th, 2008; where he was protesting the shooting of rioters by police following mass protests by members of the across the across the country as a result of a rigged presidential election.

From the time Omtata chained himself to the gate of Vigilance House, to the recent debacle at Jogoo House, when he locked up the office of Education Minister Sam Ongeri, his limelight has not dimmed.

''Senator Omtatah has been very strategic in breathing life into Article 1 of the Constitution which states that sovereign power resides in the Kenyan people. He has rightly earned his endearing name, Citizen Omtatah. Before becoming a senator, he was active in civil society as an informed citizen who led by example, actively taking on the responsibility bestowed upon us as citizens by Article 3 (1) of the Constitution to respect, uphold and defend it." Former Chief Justice Willy Mtunga once said.

Okiya Omtatah, the playwright, human rights activist and politician was born in Kenya on 30th November 1964. He grew up in Teso South and was baptized in the Catholic Church.

Courtesy Image//: *Omtatah Making a submission in Court*

He went to St Augustine Senior Seminary, Mabanga, where he pursued a Diploma in Philosophy. Here he met a missionary priest who greatly influenced his convictions. He did some writing majorly inspired by his grandparents.

His activism began back in high school. While in St. Peter’s School, students freely expressed themselves in an area commonly referred to as the ‘Stone of Wisdom’ without fear of victimisation. While he was there, he began to appreciate the importance of freedom of speech.

Many factors influenced Omtatah to join activism. First was the priest he met during his training for the priesthood who taught him the principle of the Good Samaritan.

Courtesy Image//: *Omtatah Conducting Civic Education in Busia County*

His other inspiration was from the social doctrine of the Catholic Church taught during his Catechism, on being a brother’s keeper. The teachings of the Old Testament have also been influential to his activism. He believed religion should play a role in facilitating the will of justice, love, and fairness.

Besides, the late Professor Wangari Maathai’s brand of activism is his other inspiration. He remembers the struggle she went through to protest against the construction of the Kenya Times Media Trust Complex at Uhuru Park.

Moreover, another show of moral courage is when Professor Maathai camped to begin a hunger strike in agitation for the release of fellow political prisoners.

Courtesy Image//: *Omtatah being clobbered by the Police*.

''To see an individual who could make the government refrain from committing unjust acts against its citizens really inspired Omtatah to be an activist'' Omtatah’s words Facebook Timeline posted on July 10, 2017).


In addition, Okiya Omtatah Okoiti has frequently used courts to challenge policies that limit people’s constitutional rights. He has written majorly two plays, Lwanda Magere and Voice of the People.

His play, Voice of the People, depicts the importance of the law as the last frontier for the voiceless to seek refuge and thus rediscover their ‘voice’ through activism.

Besides writing plays, Okoiti is also a politician-a good politician to add, short story writer, media commentator on social, cultural, political, and religious matters.

Okiya Omtatah has undeniably become a ubiquitous public figure. He has been making headlines for his public interest litigation, handling over 1,000 cases against individuals and institutions mainly state institutions.

His work propelled him to clinch the Busia County Senator seat. Riding on the Gen Z protests wave, Omtatah recently announced his intention to run for president in 2027 in 2024.

Omtatah first vied for the Busia senatorial seat in 2017 on a Ford-Kenya ticket but lost to the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) Amos Wako, a former long-serving Attorney General of Kenya.

He was elected in the 2022 general elections under the National Reconstruction Alliance after defeating Hillary Itela of ODM.

After gaining admission to the University of Nairobi to study Commerce, Omtatah deferred and joined St. Augustine Mabanga in Bungoma, where he obtained a Diploma in Philosophy.

In the current Parliament, Omtatah serves on the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, the Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism, and the County Public Accounts Committee.