Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has set out his blueprint for Kenya’s future should he secure the presidency in the 2027 General Election. Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer Show on Tuesday night, Omtatah said his leadership would focus on dismantling what he called the “imperial presidency” and restoring constitutional order in the use of public funds.
Anchoring his vision on the Swahili version of the national anthem and the provisions of Article 225(1) of the Constitution, Omtatah proposed the creation of an independent National Treasury completely separate from the Executive. He argued that this reform would end the concentration of financial power in the presidency, which he described as a root cause of political patronage and inequality in development.
“You cannot have a devolved system of government, then keep the Treasury under the Executive. All our problems come from the fact that money is with the President. Like Chinua Achebe says, the President holds both the knife and the cake,” he said.
The Senator pledged that within his first 90–100 days in office, his administration would:
- Transfer financial control from the presidency to Parliament.
- Ensure all public spending is approved through lawful budgetary processes.
- End the politicization of development projects.
Omtatah criticized the current practice where budget allocations often follow political loyalty, citing examples of funds being promised during presidential events. He maintained that separating the Treasury from the Executive would guarantee fair, transparent, and accountable distribution of resources.
On his presidential bid, Omtatah revealed that he has set up a presidential exploratory committee conducting a nationwide survey to assess public support. The team has already visited 31 counties, with 16 more to go. He stressed that his ambition is rooted in service, not personal gain.
“I am not running for president because I want a job. I am running because I believe there is urgent work to be done to save this country,” he said.
As Kenya heads towards 2027, Omtatah’s proposals add to the growing national debate on constitutionalism, devolution, and economic governance.