‘Leadership Is Not About Wealth!’ – Senator Omtatah Hits Back At Atwoli’s ‘Poor’ Remarks
Omtatah has responded hours after Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli dismissed activist Okiya Omtatah’s bid for the presidency in 2027 as a result of his poverty.
Omtatah took to his official X account on Thursday and questioned Atwoli’s allegations, claiming that his bid will prove his assertions false. According to Omtatah, leadership isn’t about money.
“Leadership is about vision, integrity, and the will to serve. Ordinary Kenyans, not wealth or privilege, are the backbone of any true movement for change,” Omtatah revealed.
“We will prove that a people-powered campaign can inspire hope and deliver a better future for all.”
Leadership is about vision, integrity, and the will to serve.
— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) November 28, 2024
Ordinary Kenyans, not wealth or privilege, are the backbone of any true movement for change.
We will prove that a people-powered campaign can inspire hope and deliver a better future for all. https://t.co/7KgGRmLVwc
On Wednesday, November 27, Atwoli appeared on Citizen TV in an interview with Jeff Koinange and dismissed Omtatah’s presidential ambitions, claiming that Kenyans are uninterested in identifying with a poor guy like Omtatah.
“If he came to me, I would tell him, let me see your budget. Are you going to depend on well-wishers, or what do you have as a person?” Atwoli remarked.
“Because when you are emerging for a political position, you must have saved. The world over, nobody wants to be associated with a poor person.”
According to Atwoli, Omtatah should put these ambitions aside and focus on collaboration with Western Kenya politicians, such as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, to strengthen his political base.
“He must seriously consult people like Amos Wako, move to Bungoma and consult people like Moses Wetang’ula, and look for Mudavadi,” Atwoli advised.
“From there, let him have a caucus, and we will be able to tell him whether he will be able to make it or not.”
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With only three years until the general elections, Omtatah proclaimed his intention to become President William Ruto in 2027.
To ensure his viability for the challenge, Omtatah formed a 10-member committee led by Mary Kathomi to analyze his chances of competing for and winning the top seat.
The team consists of political strategists, activists, and legal specialists entrusted with conducting nationwide opinion polls to assess his popularity and devise methods to counter prospective opponents.
Omatatah, who spoke on Wednesday to formally inaugurate the committee, urged Kenyans to financially support him.
‘Leadership Is Not About Wealth!’ – Senator Omtatah Hits Back At Atwoli’s ‘Poor’ Remarks
