Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has maintained that he remains politically unfazed by the ongoing developments in Busia County, saying that the committee he appointed to assess his suitability for a presidential bid will conclude its work this month before unveiling its report in early July.
Mr Omtatah said preparations for the 2027 presidential race require careful planning, which is why he chose to establish a strong platform that would prioritise the interests of Kenyans.
The senator faces a major political decision, particularly after Busia's first governor, Sospeter Ojamoong, announced that he intends to contest the Busia Senate seat in the 2027 General Election.
Mr Ojamoong has already secured the backing of current Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, who is expected to seek re-election on an ODM ticket.
In November 2024, Omtatah established a 10-member committee to evaluate his suitability to run for the presidency in 2027.
The committee is chaired by Mary Kathomi Riungu, with Charles Okabaiku serving as her deputy. The team is expected to finalize its work in the coming days before presenting its findings, which Mr Omtatah plans to launch in early July officially.
"The report is almost complete and I will receive it before we officially launch it in early July. All issues will have been thoroughly examined, and that is when I will decide whether to run for the presidency or return to Busia to defend my Senate seat," Omtatah told Daily Nation in an interview.
Following the Gen Z protests of 2024, Mr Omtatah emerged as one of the leaders whose popularity surged, with many Kenyans viewing him as a potential challenger capable of unseating President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
His rise in popularity was largely attributed to his activism in defending young protesters who had been arrested and his outspoken criticism of the government, particularly on issues relating to human rights violations.
However, in a TIFA opinion poll released last month, Mr Omtatah was not among the leaders considered to be strong contenders capable of mounting a serious challenge against President Ruto.
The popularity he enjoyed when he established the presidential assessment committee appears to have shifted towards Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
"I do not make noise at funerals like some politicians simply to gain publicity because my work is to defend the interests of the people of Busia and Kenyans at large in the Senate. My politics are guided by strategy rather than empty populism," he added.
The senator said he would not hesitate to run for the presidency if the committee recommends that course of action, noting that all relevant considerations will have been evaluated.
"Those who are currently positioning themselves for power have no agenda. Their only objective is to remove President Ruto from office. The issue is not merely removing Ruto and replacing him with leaders whose intention is to perpetuate the same poor leadership."
"What matters is that we have a president who genuinely safeguards the interests of Kenyans, not simply replacing the current administration with another that continues the same mistakes and injustices we have witnessed in the country," Mr Omtatah said.
The senator expressed confidence that he has what it takes to defeat President Ruto should he decide to enter the presidential race.
However, he ruled out joining either the Opposition Coalition or the Linda Mwananchi movement, arguing that both formations are focused solely on removing President Ruto rather than advancing the interests of ordinary Kenyans.
"What do they stand for besides removing President Ruto from power? So far, I have not seen anything new that they are offering or anything they would do differently from President Ruto," he said.
Governor Otuoma's endorsement of Ojamoong does not appear to have unsettled the senator, who said he is prepared to face his predecessor at the ballot should he opt not to run for the presidency.
"Ojamoong has every right to contest any seat he wishes. However, we all know that during the 10 years he served as governor of Busia, there was little meaningful development to show for it. Now he has teamed up with Governor Otuoma, whose administration has also been plagued by allegations of corruption, claiming that I have gone to court to block development projects in Busia. Let them provide the evidence," he said.
In the 2022 General Election, Omtatah successfully overcame ODM's strong political influence in Busia County to win the Senate seat on a National Reconstruction Party ticket.
He is among the few elected leaders in the county who were not elected through ODM. The others are Nambale MP Geoffrey Mulanya, who won as an independent candidate, and Teso South MP Mary Emase, who was elected on a UDA ticket.
