Sijui ni shetani ama ni nini, Karen Nyamu speaks after Senate 'blunder'

‎Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has broken her silence over the controversy that forced her to apologise in the Senate, saying she still does not understand how the remarks were interpreted.

‎Nyamu termed the incident a “blunder” and insisted she never intended to offend anyone, especially children.

‎“Juzi kuna blunder nilifanya bungeni, sometimes huwa nashangaa ni shetani ama ni nini?” Nyamu said as the crowd cheered her on.

‎The senator said people who know her understand that she could never deliberately speak negatively about a child, noting that she is also a mother.

‎“Kwa sababu si nyinyi mnajua mimi ni wenu? Na mnanijua miaka mingi na vile mnajua mimi naweza ongelelea mtoto mdogo hivyo na niko na mtoto mdogo pia? (You people know I am yours and you have known me for many years, and you know very well that I could never speak about a small child like that, especially when I also have a young child myself)," she said.

‎Speaking in Kamukunji, Nyamu said the incident escalated in a manner she could not explain, maintaining that her remarks had been misunderstood.

‎“Kwa hivyo hiyo ni mambo hatuwezi explain, hatujui kuliendaje, sijui na sikuwa namaanisha hivyo vile walisema (So those are things we cannot explain, we don’t know how it happened, I don’t know, and I did not mean it the way they said)," she added.

‎The controversy erupted after remarks she made in the Senate regarding a Grade 10 student visiting Parliament triggered public outrage, with critics accusing her of making inappropriate comments about a minor.

‎The backlash forced the senator to issue a public apology after the Senate ruled the remarks were unbecoming and violated the dignity expected of the House.

‎But addressing supporters in Kamukunji, Nyamu appeared keen to move on from the saga, saying mistakes are part of life.

‎“Tukifanya kablunder tunasonga mbele. Si mnajua mimi nawapenda na tunapendana, na mimi napenda watoto wenu (If we make a mistake, we move on. You people know I love you, and we love each other, and I also love your children),” she said.

‎Nyamu further defended herself by stressing that as a mother, she would never intentionally wish harm or disrespect on anyone.

‎“Hata mimi ni mama na siwezi kuwa na ubaya na mtu yeyote (I am also a mother, and I cannot have ill intentions toward anyone),” she said.

‎Her remarks come amid continued debate online over standards of conduct among leaders and the treatment of minors in public discourse.