A political dispute over remarks made by nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has escalated further after Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia issued a strong defence of her, even as pressure continues to mount from leaders and rights groups demanding accountability.
The controversy stems from Nyamu’s comments during a Senate session involving a Grade 10 student who had visited Parliament under a school programme.
The remarks were widely criticised as inappropriate, triggering backlash from across the political spectrum and renewed debate over the conduct of leaders when interacting with minors.
Kururia took to social media to defend the senator, insisting that the criticism directed at her was misplaced and based on misinterpretation of her remarks.
He wrote in part:
“Nobody should attack my friend Senator Karen Nyamu, over her statement which was seeking clarification on the specific SERVICE, the learner was to offer to the Superior house.”
He further argued that the Speaker of the Senate contributed to the confusion surrounding the matter, stating:
“The speaker errored by stating that the learner ‘has come to serve’ instead of stating that the learner had come for leadership orientation.”
Kururia also shifted part of the responsibility to the school, questioning its decision to expose a student to a political environment for learning purposes. He said:
“Secondly, the school errored by deciding to take a learner to a political house to learn. To learn what? Why didn’t the school take her to Church?”
He ended his remarks with a sharply worded statement that has itself drawn criticism online:
“Otherwise if she offended you, you may proceed to hell.”
His comments have deepened the controversy, with critics accusing him of trivialising concerns about safeguarding minors and the responsibilities of public institutions.
Before Kururia’s intervention, several leaders had strongly condemned Nyamu’s conduct. People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua described the incident as unacceptable, saying the student had gone to Parliament “to witness democracy in action” but was instead “humiliated by a leader entrusted to protect the dignity of citizens, especially the young ones.”
Former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo also criticised the remarks, saying the student “was met with inappropriate and degrading remarks from Senator Karen Nyamu,” and insisted that Parliament “must be a safe space that affirms the dignity and future of children.”
Within the Senate, Speaker Amason Kingi termed the remarks inappropriate, while presiding officer Veronica Maina directed Nyamu to issue an unreserved apology to the student, her family, the Senate and the public.
Nyamu has since apologised, but the incident continues to fuel national debate on leadership conduct, public accountability, and the protection of minors in state institutions.