NASA leader Raila Odinga and Kisii Senator-elect Sam Ongeri in a past event. Prof Ongeri is the oldest Senator in the country. [Photo/Nation.]
Former Nyaribari Masaba MP Sam Ongeri silenced his critics during the August 8 elections when he clinched the Kisii Senator seat in his second attempt.
Prof. Ongeri who lost to Chris Obure 4 years ago got it right this time round when he saw off former MP Omingo Magara after garnering 193,375 votes against Magara's 118,688 votes.
At 79 years, Prof. Ongeri who has dominated Kisii politics over the past three decades becomes the oldest Senator in the country.
During campaigns, Prof. Ongeri's opponents were using the issue of his age to springboard their political ambitions. And at one point, the former Cabinet Minister had to answer his critics, Ongeri insisting that he is not too old to be a Senator.
The University of London-trained Medical Doctor was first elected to parliament in 1988 on a KANU ticket. He lost the seat during the 1992 elections but recaptured it in 1997 before losing again in 2002.
In 2008, he made a political comeback and became an integral member of President Mwai Kibaki that entered a coalition agreement with Raila Odinga's ODM party.
After losing in 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him Kenyan Ambassador to the UN-HABITAT, the position he held until he rejoined politics early this year.