Are African populists a better lot?

William Ruto

President William Ruto (left) and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah.

Photo credit: Nation Media Group

Busia Senator and long-time rights activist Okiya Omtatah officially dipped his toes into Kenyan presidential waters last week. He launched a 10-member committee to assess the viability of his run in 2027.

Omtatah’s jump into the fray is unusual in that, as he said: “This is a world of data...it is only when we have actionable information backed by data that one can make an informed decision. That is the preliminary stage of my presidential ambitions.”