NAIROBI, Kenya, July 28 – Ol Kalou Member of Parliament Sammy Douglas Waweru Ngotho was on Tuesday sworn into the National Assembly following his victory in the July 16 by-election, in a ceremony briefly disrupted by jubilant lawmakers allied to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
The swearing-in ceremony was momentarily halted after DCP-affiliated MPs erupted into cheers as the newly elected legislator entered the chamber accompanied by Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia and Roysambu MP Augustine Mwafrika.
The legislators, dressed in coordinated green suits and skirt suits the party’s signature colour began celebrating even before Ngotho had taken the oath of office, prompting National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to restore order.
“Order, Honourable Members. You know that when you are swearing in your colleague, it is done in absolute silence. You can celebrate thereafter, and the celebration will be in the garden out there, not on the floor of the House,” Wetang’ula ruled before proceeding with the ceremony.
Once calm was restored, Ngotho took the oath of office, signed the official register and was presented with parliamentary documents, including a copy of the Constitution of Kenya.
After the ceremony, the legislator reaffirmed his commitment to serving his constituents.
“Finally, I have taken the Oath of Office to serve the patriotic people of Ol Kalou Constituency. So help me God,” he posted on his social media pages.
Ngotho was elected Ol Kalou MP after securing a landslide victory in the July 16 by-election, garnering 35,440 votes to defeat United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who received 5,450 votes. His victory filled the parliamentary seat left vacant following the death of the area’s former MP.
The Speaker also cracked down on DCP-affiliated senators who had attended the sitting after one of them was seen occupying a seat reserved for Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in the Speaker’s Gallery.
Addressing the Sergeant-at-Arms, Wetang’ula directed that the senator be removed, insisting that parliamentary protocol must be upheld.
“Those Senators sitting in the gallery, will you vacate the Deputy President’s seat? I allowed you to the Speaker’s row and not to sit on the Deputy President’s seat. Sergeant-at-Arms, you know the rules of the House; you don’t need the Speaker to pronounce himself on this for you to enforce the rules. Nobody, and I mean nobody, can take that seat except the Deputy President,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Ngotho drew attention after opting to travel to Parliament in a public service vehicle instead of using official transport. Photographs shared on his social media accounts showed him riding in a matatu alongside ordinary commuters, a move that sparked widespread discussion online ahead of his swearing-in.
