Presidential hopeful and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has, on Saturday, September 14, 2025, made it clear that his presidential bid will not rely on ethnic alliances but instead on ideas and principles.

Omtatah said his campaign is rooted in justice, truth, and constitutionalism, values that he believes can unite Kenyans beyond tribal divisions.

“My campaign isn’t about tribes. It’s about truth, justice & constitutionalism. At the ballot, Kenyans will decide,” he stated.

The outspoken senator emphasised that leadership should not be reduced to mobilising communities along tribal lines. According to him, Kenyans deserve clear agendas that they can judge and choose from, rather than being locked into ethnic voting patterns.

“I don’t need a tribal bloc to win the presidency; I just need a clarity of mind. I need an agenda that I can give to Kenyans to either buy it or reject it. But agendas I must give them,” Omtatah noted.

He went further to illustrate his point using a biblical reference. Omtatah said the people must be given a moment of choice, one that allows them to decide for themselves without manipulation.

“They must have that Good Friday moment when they are asked Christ or Pharaoh; let them choose who they want. The world wouldn’t end,” he explained.

The senator stressed that Kenya should be run by the best minds available, not by individuals picked based on favouritism or tribal loyalty. He said that institutions such as parastatals should reflect competence and fairness in their appointments.

“Let the country be run by the best. If it is a board of parastatals, parastatal boards must be filled competitively,” he remarked.

Omtatah criticised the current practice where key appointments are reserved for political allies, relatives, or individuals who lost elections but are rewarded with state positions.

“Those in power have refused; they give it to relatives and supporters who lose elections,” he said.

Through his remarks, Omtatah positioned his campaign as one that seeks to challenge the political order and provide Kenyans with a genuine alternative.