By Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, Oct.08, 2026
NAIROBI, Kenya – A TOP politician has sparked fierce backlash after being caught on camera sucking her thumb and endlessly scrolling on her mobile phone during an official parliamentary session.
Outraged voters slammed nominated Kenyan Senator Karen Nyamu over the bizarre footage, which shows her zoned out in the chamber while ignoring national debate.
The clip, which rapidly went viral across social media, shows the politician seated in the Senate plenary with a thumb firmly planted in her mouth while her other hand flips through phone screens.
Furious citizens labelled her conduct “disgraceful” and an insult to taxpayers, demanding higher standards of decorum from elected officials.
Critics quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok to voice their anger, with one online user branding her a “TikTok senator” who treats the legislative house like a living room.
However, the viral clip also kicked off a wave of bizarre debate online, with some defenders claiming the habit is simply a harmless adult “coping mechanism” for stress.
”Let’s not shame her, it’s just her nervous system asking for comfort,” wrote one user, while another joked she was merely reading the “rule of thumb”.
Serial Controversy: Senator Karen Nyamu—a nominated senator representing President William Ruto’s ruling party—is no stranger to public backlash.
She has built a reputation as one of Kenya’s most controversial political figures, often making headlines for her personal life, viral videos, and fiery antics rather than legislative work.
Parliamentary Ejections: The politician has previously been ordered out of the Senate chamber by Speaker Amason Kingi for dress code violations—most notably appearing in a sleeveless dress that breached parliamentary decorum rules.
Public Altercations: She previously caused an uproar following a public clash at a concert in Dubai involving Mugithi musician Samidoh (Samuel Muchoki) and his wife, an incident that led her party’s disciplinary committee to summon her over conduct unbecoming of a lawmaker.
The “Doomscrolling” Debate: The latest viral video has reignited broader frustration among citizens regarding politicians using smartphones, filming TikToks, and browsing social media during parliamentary debates while pressing economic issues are discussed.
