At 81 years, Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri is the oldest member of the Kenyan Senate.
Boasting as one of the longest-serving politicians in the country, Prof. Ongeri is among the most respected politicians in Kenya today.
Throughout his 30 years in the country's political scene, Prof. Ongeri has served in nearly all top government offices in the country.
He started as a Medical Professor at the University of Nairobi, and slowly built one of the most distinguished careers in the country.
At one point, he served as Chairman of Athletics Kenya.
He later tried his hand in politics, winning the Nyaribari Masaba MP seat during the 1988 elections where he served until 1992.
From 1988 to 1992, he served in Cabinet as Minister for Technical and Vocational Education.
After losing the 1992 election, he was appointed Kenya's Special Representative to UNEP. Within the same period, he served as University of Nairobi Council Chairman.
Prof. Ongeri made a political comeback in 1997 but lost the seat in 2002 only to return in 2007. He would later serve as the Minister of Education and later Foreign Affairs in President Mwai Kibaki's government.
He contested the Kisii Senatorial seat in 2013 but lost to Chris Obure. He was later appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya's Ambassador to UN-HABITAT.
In 2017, he made a comeback, winning the Kisii Senate seat on an ODM ticket.
In 2022, Prof. Ongeri will be 83 years. As to whether he will finally hang his boots after a colourful life in public service and politics, remains unknown.