Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has been honoured with the 2025 Vanguard Warrior of the Year Award by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya.
Senator Omtatah won the award during an event held by ICJ Kenya on Thursday, December 11.
In a statement, ICJ Kenya said Omtatah has been a fearless defender of the Kenyan Constitution and a symbol of integrity and justice.
“Congratulations, Senator Okiya Omtatah, for being the 2025 vanguaurd warrior. You are a fearless defender of the Constitution and a symbol of integrity and justice in our nation,” ICJ Kenya stated.
Taking to his X account after winning the award, Senator Omtatah said he was honoured to be feted with the award.
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The Busia Senator dedicated the Vanguard Warrior Award to judges in the Judiciary and urged them to stand firm while making their decisions.
“I am honoured to receive the Vanguard Warrior of the Year Award. This award is not just a recognition; it is a challenge and a call to uphold the law with unwavering fidelity. I dedicate this award to the judges of our Republic.
”I urge you: let nothing distract you from the law. Your decisions carry immense weight, shaping the lives, hopes, and futures of countless Kenyans. When the judiciary stands firm, the nation stands secure. Thank you to all who continue to believe in the rule of law and the supremacy of our Constitution,” he stated.
According to ICJ Kenya, Omtatah’s landmark victories include successfully challenging the ban on the Butere Girls’ play ‘Shackled of Doom’, contesting the arbitrary stamp duty waiver of Sh7 billion during the NCBA–NIC merger, challenging irregularities in the procurement of PPPs, and petitioning the court to lift the ban on the consolidation of goods by importers, a restriction that had favoured large businesses.
The Busia Senator also fought land grabbing at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) facilities in Naivasha and compensation for people displaced by the construction of Karumenu Dam.
This comes days after Omtatah and the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) filed a petition in court to stop the implementation of the Ksh208 billion Kenya and US health cooperation agreement.
On Wednesday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued a conservatory order suspending the implementation of the deal until February 12, 2026, when the case will be heard.
Meanwhile, veteran lawyer John Khaminwa won the 2025 Jurist of the Year during the event.
ICJ Kenya noted that Khaminwa has had a long-time commitment to justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
“We hold you up today with pride, gratitude, and immense respect for your lifelong commitment to justice, human rights, and the rule of law. You have affirmed, time and again, that courage and integrity remain the bedrock of a just society,” the organisation stated.
