NOTE: This story has been updated to factor in the fact the viral video of the senator joining senate proceedings from a bar was fake.
Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata on Tuesday, September 14 was caught up in a compromising situation after joining senate proceedings online allegedly from an entertainment zone.
In the zoom gaffe, Senator Kang’ata struggled to get the attention of the house, as he was attending the senate proceedings through a video call.
In the sitting, Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka called out the name of the Murang’a legislator, and just when he was about to skip him, Irungu Kang’ata raised his voice.
“Mr Speaker..Mr Speaker I am there, online, I am ready. Mr Speaker you can see me, I am online, and my video is on,” he said.
However, the speaker could not see Senator Irungu and insisted that they have to see him through the technological devices in the building.
“I don’t know maybe it’s because I am reading the statement or the settings? But I am ready to read it Mr Speaker,” Kang’ata defended himself.
The brief encounter attracted the attention of another Senator in the house, who claimed Irungu Kang’ata was attending the session from a bar.
“Mr speaker he is drinking, he is in a bar. He is on Thika Highway, he is drinking. He is at Sabina Joy,” the legislator interrupted.
After being cornered, Irungu Kang’ata admitted that he was not in his office, asking to be given time to relocate to an appropriate place.
“That’s not an office Senator Kang’ata, I am sorry we can’t allow that. The rules are very clear on where you should be. So you are out of order Senator. When you are in an appropriate place I will give you an opportunity,” Lusaka said.
It has however been established that the viral video was manipulated and it is actually fake. The senator was trying to join parliament from his office at Parliament buildings and not from a bar.
Kivumbi.co.ke has since established the senator later appeared in senate physically and proceeded with his presentation to the senate.
The Murang’a Senator was a top official in the Senate before being ousted from the Majority leadership position by the Jubilee Party.
Since falling out with the party, Kang’ata joined Deputy President William Ruto’s camp, seeking to contest for the county’s gubernatorial position.
