Activist Okiya Omtatah in Court to Block 'Corrupt' Politicians from 2022 Elections

Renowned activist Okiya Omtatah has filed a petition seeking to have persons with integrity issues barred from vying for political seats in the August 9th elections.

In a petition filed at the High Court in Nairobi, Omtatah says he is concerned that several persons implicated in corruption scandals and theft of public funds have declared interest in various political positions in the forthcoming elections.

The petitioner expressed fears that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is likely to clear contestants with a tainted past, including those who were mentioned in the Covid-19 supplies scandal.

“It is a matter of public notoriety and concern that many people adversely mentioned in the theft of public funds, including the so-called Covid-19 billionaires, are lining up to vie in the August 9th general elections for various positions at the county and national levels of government,” says Omtatah in the petition filed under a certificate of urgency.

He argues that allowing such individuals to vie for public offices is a threat to Kenya’s constitutional order and is detrimental to the country’s good governance, and the war against corruption.

“To normalize the participation of people without integrity in the political life of the republic is to clearly demonstrate a lack of understanding of the obligations placed on elected leaders,” he adds.

Omtatah avers that the best way to ensure good governance, including lack of transparency and accountability in the public sector and theft of public funds, is to ensure that only people with integrity are elected into office at both the county and national levels of government.