Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has claimed that three protesters shielded him from bullets during the Wednesday, June 25, 2025, protests in Nairobi.

In a statement on Saturday, June 28, 2025, the vocal senator indicated that the three were shot at Teleposta, where they bravely rose and formed a human shield to protect him.

As a result, three of them got shot and are now nursing various degrees of injuries.

Omtatah made the revelation after visiting them at the Kenyatta National Hospital on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

“Today at Kenyatta National Hospital, I held the hands of young Kenyans whose courage will live far beyond this moment. They stood firm where many would have run. The bullets that tore through them were meant to silence me but they chose to stand between fear and hope,” Omtatah’s statement read in part.

“At Nation Centre, one was shot 3 times. At Teleposta, as we sat in peace, brave souls rose and formed a human shield to protect me from live bullets. As a result, three of them got shot.

“One took 7 bullets. Mike Kamau, a young law student, took 6 and now fights for his life with wounds to his stomach, ribs and hands. Ian Mwangi, shot twice on the leg, is now undergoing surgery after our visit,” it added.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said in its preliminary report that at least 19 people died in the chaos, 531 were injured, and 15 were forcibly disappeared.

The commission further said it documented 179 arrests, two cases of individual rape, two cases of gang rape, and one attempted gang rape.

Condemns brutality

At the same time, Omtatah condemned police brutality witnessed during the protests. Omtatah claimed that at least 35 young people are currently admitted, wounded by live rounds, rubber bullets, and what he described as “brute force from those who should protect them.”

“35 young people lie in those wards today, admitted following the Wednesday demonstrations, wounded by live rounds, rubber bullets and brute force from those who should protect them.
A government that fears its own youth more than it fears injustice has lost its way. Let those in power remember this truth. Bullets can wound the body, but they will never kill the spirit of a people who have woken up,” Omtatah’s statement added.

“I thank these brave young men who shielded me from 18 live rounds, and I thank all sons and daughters of Kenya for choosing courage over fear. They remind us that the Constitution is not just words on paper but a living promise carried in the hearts of a generation who refuse to surrender their future.”

Against going to State House

This comes a day after he indicated that he was against plans to storm the State House. Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Thursday morning, June 26, 2025, 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.”