Senator Okiya Omtatah was suspended from the Senate for three sittings after refusing to withdraw comments he made about President William Ruto. The remarks, in which Omtatah used the term “yapping” to describe Ruto’s speech on undocumented immigrants, led to his immediate ejection from the chamber on September 10, 2026.
Omtatah defended his use of the word, arguing that it was not disrespectful or unparliamentary. He claimed the term was a permissible description of what he perceived as Ruto’s behavior. However, Senate authorities deemed the remark inappropriate and ordered him out of the chamber.
The incident sparked debate over freedom of speech within the legislative body. Omtatah’s suspension highlights ongoing tensions between political figures and the rules governing parliamentary conduct. The situation remains under review as the Senate considers further action.
