Nyandarua Senator John Methu occupies the seat reserved for the Deputy President in the Speaker’s Gallery during the swearing-in of Ol Kalou MP-elect Sammy Kamau on July 28, 2026/HANDOUTNyandarua Senator John Methu has explained why he briefly occupied the seat reserved for the Deputy President in the National Assembly, saying the incident was an innocent mistake that has been blown out of proportion.
In a statement issued after Tuesday's parliamentary proceedings, Methu said he was unaware that the seat he occupied was designated for the Deputy President and vacated it immediately after being guided by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.
"I've seen some people blowing out of proportion an innocent mistake. When we were ushered to the speakers' row at the National Assembly earlier today, my colleagues said, 'SG kalia hio kiti kubwa,' completely unaware that it's the seat reserved for the Deputy President," Methu said.
He added that he did not intentionally occupy the seat and moved immediately after the Speaker pointed out the mistake.
"I was later guided by the Speaker and vacated promptly. Mi sikujua!" he said.
The senator was among leaders from the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) who had attended Parliament for the swearing-in of the party's first elected Member of Parliament, Sammy Kamau, following his victory in the Ol Kalou by-election.
Kamau was officially sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Ol Kalou during the afternoon sitting of the National Assembly after taking the oath of office before Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.
Before administering the oath, the Speaker reminded members that the ceremony was a solemn parliamentary process and called for silence in the House.
"You know that when you are swearing in your colleague, it's done in absolute silence. You can celebrate thereafter, and the celebration will be in the garden out there, not on the floor of the House," Wetang'ula said.
Kamau then took the oath using the Bible, pledging to faithfully serve the people of Ol Kalou, uphold the Constitution and conscientiously discharge his duties as a Member of Parliament before signing the oath register to formally assume office.
Following the ceremony, the newly sworn-in legislator described the occasion as a historic milestone for DCP, saying it marked the party's entry into Parliament.
Kamau entered the National Assembly after winning the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election on a DCP ticket.
Official results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission showed he secured more than 35,440 votes, defeating UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who garnered about 5,450 votes.
The by-election attracted nine candidates and was widely viewed as an early political contest in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kamau's victory handed DCP its first parliamentary seat since the party's formation, giving the party representation in the National Assembly for the first time.
The campaign drew intense participation from both Kenya Kwanza and opposition leaders, with DCP officials, including Methu, actively backing Kamau throughout the race.
