Wednesday, September 3, 2025 – The Senate chamber in Nairobi was thrown into confusion earlier today after Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya made a shocking and insensitive remark against visiting pupils from his own county.
A group of learners from Tharaka constituency had been officially invited to witness parliamentary proceedings as part of an educational tour. However, instead of welcoming and encouraging them, Senator Gataya dismissed the children, claiming they “all look hungry” and had no business being paraded in the Senate gallery.
His unexpected words immediately triggered outrage, with many legislators terming the comments demeaning, careless, and disrespectful to the young visitors.
Kitui Senator Confronts Gataya
Among the first to respond was the Kitui Senator, who sharply criticized Gataya for humiliating the learners rather than motivating them. He accused him of using the Senate floor to belittle children instead of uplifting them, stressing that leaders should be role models to the youth.
“Instead of encouraging those pupils, you have chosen to mock them. That is unacceptable,” he fired back, sparking applause from several colleagues.
Division Among Senators
The incident left the House deeply divided, with some Senators demanding that Gataya withdraw the offensive remarks and issue a formal apology to both the children and their teachers. Others, however, downplayed the controversy, arguing that the statement may have been misinterpreted or said in jest.
Still, the majority agreed that public ridicule of minors in a national institution sets a bad precedent and undermines efforts to nurture respect for education and leadership among the youth.
Public Reactions
The exchange has since gone viral on social media, with Kenyans expressing anger and disappointment. Many accused Gataya of insensitivity and arrogance, while others challenged him to focus on developmental issues in Tharaka Nithi instead of mocking schoolchildren.
The matter is expected to spark further debate on the conduct and accountability of elected leaders within Parliament.
