Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei was on Wednesday forced to withdraw his remarks from the Senate records, after branding some Kenyan activists “busybodies and good-for-nothing individuals.” 

Cherargei had taken the Senate floor to weigh in on the saga involving Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who is still missing despite earlier reports of his release from Tanzanian police custody. 

But instead of rallying behind the cause, the senator doubled down on blame, aimed squarely at the activists themselves.

“I want to thank Samia Suluhu Hassan for calling out the activists who wanted to go and disrupt the peace in Tanzania. In fact, she should have detained and prosecuted them because they have taught this country bad manners,” he said. 

He added: “They have taught our people to insult, to undermine, and to lose respect for the leadership of this country.”

The senator further warned East African countries of a new wave of activism which he claimed was financed by unnamed foreign entities, determined to destabilise African nations, adding that compromised activists must be stopped.

Last year, President Ruto accused the Ford Foundation of sponsoring the Gen Z protests.

“I want to ask President Samia Suluhu that in the spirit of East Africa she should assist us to discipline some of these ill-behaved activists who continue to destabilise Kenya. Awafinye kabisa,” he remarked.

The Nandi Senator didn’t stop there. Taking a jab at constitutional lawyer Martha Karua, who was deported from Tanzania after trying to attend opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s trial, Cherargei turned to the East African Community treaty.

“Martha Karua and other busybody activists are not defined as goods and services, unless I’m getting the treaty wrong. What labour were Karua and Boniface taking to Tanzania?” he posed. 

Karua, it’s worth noting, is also involved in Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye’s case.

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch and Majority Whip Boni Khalwale hit back, with Khalwale demanding an apology.

“Is the honourable senator in order to use unparliamentarily language, calling distinguished Kenyans busybodies? I demand that he withdraws, and apologises abundantly to professor Willy Mutunga and Martha Karua,” he remarked, adding, “I would forgive him if he was talking about people like Boniface Mwangi.”

Outside the Senate, Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi chimed in with his trademark bravado, blaming the activists for stirring a diplomatic storm, and expecting the government to clean it up.

“Let’s refrain from taking our usual excitement to other countries. We have too much freedom, we abuse each other freely…Don’t take it elsewhere. If I were President Suluhu, I would serve them two strokes of cane for two days so that they get home well mannered,” he said.

“Chonjo kabisa Mama Suluhu, next time make sure wamekula maharagwe.”