Okiya Omtatah: I was against marching to State House to avoid deaths
By Aloys Michael, June 26, 2025Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has called on protesting youth to resist the temptation of storming the State House, urging them instead to focus their energy on achieving lasting change through democratic means.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Thursday, June 26, 2025, morning, Omtatah, who joined the June 25 demonstrations in solidarity with Gen Z protestors, said that while public discontent is justified, violence and confrontations with state security forces could only lead to further bloodshed.
“I was against the march to State House because I knew people would get killed,” Omtatah stated.
“Kenyans must avoid an uprising, but instead channel their anger into a revolution via the ballot come 2027.”
His comments come a day after thousands of Kenyans, mostly youth, took to the streets in major towns to protest. In Nairobi, tensions rose sharply as protesters attempted to breach the heavily fortified State House area, prompting a heavy police response.
Omtatah, a seasoned activist and one of the most vocal critics of government overreach warned that resorting to confrontational politics would only delay justice for those already killed or harmed during peaceful protests.
“We still do not have justice for those who were killed during the June 25 protests. Adding more deaths will not solve the crisis,” he said.
The senator affirmed that the protests reflect a deep and growing frustration among citizens over poor governance, lack of transparency, and rising cost of living.
“Kenyans are on the streets because they want good governance,” Omtatah noted.
He lauded the youth for organizing peaceful demonstrations and holding leaders to account but cautioned that the movement’s success depends on strategic thinking and long-term vision, not spontaneous uprisings.
“Kenyans must realize that the power lies in their vote. If we want to fix this nation, we must do it by removing bad leaders through the ballot—not bullets,” Omtatah emphasized.
Omtatah joins demos
The Legislator was warmly welcomed by Gen Z protestors already gathered on the streets, who expressed their excitement upon seeing him and held his hand in unity.
He joined a growing list of leaders who have shown support by participating in the protests.
Other leaders, such as Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, also arrived to join the protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. His arrival was met with thunderous jubilation from hundreds of youth who had gathered in anticipation.
The youthful crowd erupted in cheers, chanting “Babu! Babu!” while raising their hands in the air with excitement. Some even lifted him shoulder-high, turning the street into a vibrant scene of celebration, charged with raw energy and defiant optimism.