Okiya Omtatah explains why his children stay out of the limelight
Busia Senator and human rights activist Okiya Omtatah has opened up about his children’s decision to lead private lives away from public attention, even though he has embraced the public spotlight.
Speaking during a candid interview with a local TV station on Thursday night, August 7, 2025, Omtatah cited safety concerns as one of the main reasons his children shy away from the public eye.
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The vocal senator added that despite his high-profile work and frequent media appearances, his children have chosen to avoid the limelight due to fear of being targeted.
“Mara yengine huwa ina wasukuma lakini huwa na waongeleshs mbaka sahi watoto wangu hawataki kujulikana hadharani wanaongopa kuwa targeted lakini ya duniua ni hivyo,” he said.
Omtatah’s revelation offers a glimpse into the personal sacrifices his family makes to support his work behind the scenes, choosing to stay out of the public eye to protect their safety and privacy.
Activism
Before venturing into active politics, Omtatah was a well-known activist who had been and is still fighting against the violation of human rights, the pursuit of justice and constitutional accountability.
Unlike other activists, Omtatah is known for chaining himself during demonstrations.
Speaking during a candid live interview with digital content creator Oga Obbina on Monday night of January 21, 2025, he explained the reasons behind his chaining stunt whenever he participates in protests, stating that it is a way of protecting himself from police brutality.
Furthermore, the vocal Senator added that apart from protection against police brutality, the chain also isolates them from goons who infiltrate protests.
“One of the things the chains do, first, it isolates because people come to intervene in demos and be causing mayhem. Second askaris when they try to attack you in that position they become very vulnerable to cameras, and third kungolewa hapo kama umeshika hiyo nyororo it becomes very difficult,” Omtatah explained.
Omtatah on his first chaining
Reflecting on the first time he chained himself in 2008 at Vigilance House in Nairobi after the 2007 post-election violence, Omtatah says that the chaining stunt is a spiritual intervention since he had asked God to give him a safe formula that he could address Kenyans.
When asked why he fearlessly chained himself at the police headquarters, Omtatah said that he resorted to that so that he could air out the grievances affecting Kenyans since press conferences were banned.
The 2027 presidential aspirant went on to add that some people had approached and asked him as an activist to hold a press conference to address the ongoing violation of human rights.
