Little is known of activist-cum-Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah other than him being chained to gates challenging the system and fighting for human rights.
The vocal activist also made an appearance in the 2022 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court. He was among the interested parties that challenged William Ruto's win.
Omtatah, 57, had a dream outside politics and fighting for the 'small' man, he wanted to be a Catholic priest before several epileptic attacks cut the dream short.
While appearing on JKLive on Wednesday, September 14, Omtatah took a walk through memory lane from when he was born in 1964 in Kwangamor village in Busia county.
Omtatah was raised in a Catholic family, a factor that heightened his calling to the priesthood.
"I meet missionary priests who convinced me to join the seminary and train to be a catholic priest. I detoured and failed to be a priest. Some of my friends are bishops and archbishops," he disclosed.
After his admission to the University of Nairobi (UoN) to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Omtatah deferred and joined St Augustine philosophicum in Bungoma to study philosophy.
"I fell sick after finishing my philosophy classes, I became heavily epileptic. I was told you can not be a priest if you are epileptic, what happens if you get a fit during a service," he stated.
His epileptic episodes were cured after his encounter with a fellow student while playing football.
"I had a fit while playing football. A player from the opposite team came to my aid. His grandfather had taught him some treatments that could cure epilepsy among others. My father paid Ksh1,500 and I began treatment in 1987 and I was cured after 12 days but hospitals refused to clear me," the senator disclosed.
Interestingly, the activist noted his calling to be a priest is still strong but would be impossible since he is married.
He jokingly stated it would take a special intervention from the pope for him to pursue the priesthood.
In his life as an activist, Omtatah stated it's inspired by a need to say no boldly to oppression and injustice.
"My report cards say obedient but outspoken. I remember when I was a head boy I had it rough. I punished some students for sneaking out of the compound and someone leaked it to the directors who demanded I should divulge the names I refused, and I was suspended," he reminisced.
Before joining politics, Omtatah noted he had lobbied the county government to ‘give’ him a road to construct. According to him, the 22KM tarmac road will connect to the highway leading to Uganda. It is estimated to cost Ksh2.2 B.
Notably, Omtatah won an 8-year-long court battle to recover over 800 acres of government land in Busia County.
Omtatah won the Busia senatorial seat in the 2022 general election after garnering 171,681 votes under the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) party and defeated Hillary Itela from the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) party with 59,276 votes.
