Okiya Omtatah gets 3-day Senate suspension over remarks made against Ruto
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has been suspended from the Senate for three sitting days after refusing to withdraw remarks describing President William Ruto as “yapping”. Omtatah was ordered to leave the chamber on Thursday, September 10, 2026, after he challenged Speaker Amason Kingi’s directive requiring him to withdraw the word, arguing that “yapping” was neither […]
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has been suspended from the Senate for three consecutive sitting days due to his refusal to retract remarks that described President William Ruto as "yapping". During a heated exchange on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Omtatah challenged Speaker Amason Kingi's directive to remove the word, arguing that it was not unparliamentary or disrespectful.
He also questioned the potential for a "slippery slope" in determining what words senators can use during debate. Kingi, however, stated that Omtatah was not complying with an earlier ruling and warned him to leave the chamber for three consecutive sittings or face further consequences. Omtatah defended his choice of words, comparing them to the Westminster Parliament's record, and warned against what he called "a slippery slope" in defining acceptable language during debate. The Speaker maintained that the matter had already been settled by an earlier ruling.
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Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Omtatah ejected from Senate, barred for three days over Ruto ‘yapping’ remarks capitalfm.africa
- Omtatah defends ‘yapping’ remark after Senate suspension peopledaily.digital
