A heated exchange in the Senate has resulted in Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah being suspended for three sitting days after a disagreement with Speaker Amason Kingi over remarks he made about President William Ruto.
The confrontation happened during an afternoon sitting on Thursday, September 10, 2026, after Omtatah was asked to withdraw a statement in which he described the President as ‘yapping’ while making a recent roadside declaration.
Omtatah stood his ground and questioned why he was required to withdraw the word, arguing that it was not unparliamentary. He said he was ready to follow the rules of the House but did not believe his choice of words violated parliamentary language.
“I rise to address this House on the requirement you have placed upon me to withdraw my statement regarding the President’s recent roadside declaration. I wish to do so not out of defiance but out of deep respect for this House and the integrity of our parliamentary language,” Omtatah said.
“The term I used was not unparliamentary. The statement in question was my observation that the President was yapping when he made a roadside declaration. Yapping is not unparliamentary,” he added.
The explanation, however, did not settle the matter. Kingi ordered Omtatah to leave the chamber for three sitting days, directing him to comply with the ruling.
“Omtatah, I order you to leave the chamber for three sitting days. You may leave now. May you leave the chamber,” Kingi directed.
The situation became more tense when Omtatah appeared unwilling to immediately leave. Kingi warned him that continued defiance could lead to a longer punishment and the involvement of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
“Do not make me direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to come for you because that will amount to 90 days,” Kingi warned.
The Speaker also reminded Omtatah that the Senate operates under the rules governing the Kenyan Parliament, rather than those of the Westminster Parliament.
Kingi eventually instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the senator out of the chamber.
“Sergeant-at-Arms, may you get Omtatah out of the Parliament,” Kingi ordered.
The incident adds to Omtatah’s long record of openly challenging the Ruto administration. The Busia senator has frequently criticised government policies and decisions, particularly on matters of governance and public accountability.
His suspension means he will miss three Senate sittings following the confrontation, while the exchange is likely to draw further attention to the language used by lawmakers when discussing the President and other public officials.
