Okiya Omtatah Hints at Working with David Maraga after Public Endorsement: "We've Held Discussions"
- Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah confirmed having discussions with former chief justice David Maraga, fuelling speculation of a possible political coalition ahead of 2027
- Omtatah emphasised their shared interest in implementing the constitution and transitioning Kenya’s economy from agriculture to a service-based model
- He dismissed viral campaign posters with his image as individual expressions, while taking aim at Rigathi Gachagua’s 'cousins' remarks
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Okiya Omtatah is already laying the groundwork for 2027, and he might not be going it alone.
Source: UGC
The Busia senator confirmed engaging in political talks with former chief justice David Maraga, raising eyebrows over a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an interview on NTV on Thursday, June 26, Omtatah revealed that the two had already met and exchanged ideas on the direction they hope to take the country.
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"I have held discussions with Maraga and told him what we need to do. We have to ask ourselves whether we are in agreement of minds, or is it just because Maraga is not tainted and Omtatah is not tainted," he said.
When asked about the trending campaign posters pairing him with Maraga, Omtatah dismissed them as personal expressions from his supporters.
"I have seen the posters. But those are tools of individual exposition. It is people exposing their individual preferences, which is okay," he said.
What vision does Omtatah have for Kenya?
Omtatah went on to outline his vision for Kenya, saying his leadership would focus on fully implementing the constitution and modernising the economy.
He criticised Kenya’s continued reliance on agriculture, which he described as a poverty trap that should only serve basic sustenance needs.
"My offer is to implement the constitution, to put Kenya on a path to pursue material progress. We want to see a rich country, and how do we do that? How do we get agriculture from being the backbone of the country's economy to service industry?" Omtatah asked.
He argued that the country needs to move towards service-based sectors such as banking and technology, while addressing infrastructure issues that stifle productivity.
"We cannot have a whole country in subsistence mode. We need to go to the service industry. We need to go to banking. We need to clean up our electricity, the cost and availability," he said.
Source: Twitter
Omtatah also said his administration would focus on managing time, which he called the most precious but often wasted resource in Kenya.
He also vowed to instil discipline among Kenyans and revolutionise transport systems, especially in the capital.
"We need to create some discipline, to clean up the public transport. We cannot afford to have Nairobi in the chaos that we see every day. People must be able to move to and from work efficiently. We have to clean up our roads and provide infrastructure for people who do not drive. We need to tweak those things," he said.
In the interview, he also criticised former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua over his alleged tribal remarks, especially his habit of referring to some Kenyans as “cousins.”
Omtatah, however, clarified that Maraga has not aligned himself with the Gachagua-led faction, which has drawn support from opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, and Justin Muturi.
He expressed confidence in his 2027 chances, singling out former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i as his only worthy competitor.
"My exploration committee has reached 31 counties, and still moving on. It's a bit expensive so I look for money from my businesses. So far the preliminary verdict is positive. The only place I might have a challenge is Kisii, where the Matiang'i wave is high," Omtatah said.
Was marching to State House a deadly mistake?
In a related development, Omtatah revealed he joined the June 25 protests in Nairobi to prevent demonstrators from advancing toward State House.
He believed the plan to storm the president’s residence would have led to a violent clash, far worse than last year’s deadly anti-finance bill protests.
Omtatah explained that his goal was to diffuse the tension and stop what he saw as a suicidal mission. He feared lives would be lost, especially during a protest meant to honour those already killed in past demonstrations. For him, stepping in was a matter of saving lives.
He warned that allowing the protests to spiral into an uprising could open the door to chaos and manipulation by elite groups.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
