Ambassador Prof. Hon. Samson Kegengo Ongeri, EGH (born 23 February 1938) is a Kenyan politician. He is the former Senator for

Kisii County Kisii County is a county in the former Nyanza Province in southwestern Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kisii. The county has a population of 1,266,860 people. It borders Nyamira County to the North East, Narok County to the South, and ...

Early life

Ongeri was born on 23 February 1938, in Gesusu, Nyaribari Masaba.

Political life

Hon Prof Sam Ongeri was first elected to Parliament in 1988 and was a member until 1992. He was re-elected to represent the Nyaribari Masaba Constituency in the

National Assembly of Kenya The National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya is one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Kenya. Between 1966 and 2013, it served as a unicameral house. In 2013 ( 11th Parliament), it became the lower house when the Senate was reestablis ...

in 1992 to 1997 with overwhelming votes. His tenure lasted until 2002. , he was Minister of Education from 2007 to 2012 and Foreign Minister of Kenya between 2012 and 2013,and Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat from 2015-2017 where he initiated and participated in the UN-Habitat’s reduced spatial inequality and poverty in communities across the urban-rural continuum, Enhanced shared prosperity of cities and regions, Strengthened climate action and improved urban environment and Effective urban crisis prevention and response. He unsuccessfully ran for office to represent Kisii County as a senator in 2013. In 2017 he was elected as Kisii County Senator. He was the chairman of

Athletics Kenya Athletics Kenya (AK) is the governing body for the sport of athletics (track and field) in Kenya. It is a member of World Athletics and Confederation of African Athletics. AK organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan tea ...

from 1974 to 1984. On 12 September 2012, Ongeri was among a Kenyan delegation meeting in

Mogadishu Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Oc ...

with newly elected Somali President

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ( so, Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud, ar, حسن شيخ محمود; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician who has served as the president of Somalia since May 2022. He is the founder and current chairman of the Union for ...

, when two suicide bombers and two gunmen dressed in government uniforms attempted an attack on the Jazeera Hotel where the officials had convened. There were reportedly around 10 casualties, among which were three Somali security detail, one AU peacekeeper, and the assailants themselves. None of the assembled statesmen were harmed. The Al-Shabaab militant group later claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Education

He attended the Gesusu Primary and Intermediate from 1943-51. Went to Bugema Missionary College 1952-57. Took a Pre-Medical Course at

University of Delhi Delhi University (DU), formally the University of Delhi, is a collegiate central university located in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1922 by an Act of the Central Legislative Assembly and is recognized as an Institute of Eminence (IoE ...

1959-61. Took Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from

University of Bombay The University of Mumbai is a collegiate, state-owned, public research university in Mumbai. The University of Mumbai is one of the largest universities in the world. , the university had 711 affiliated colleges. Ratan Tata is the appointed ...

1961-66. Attended

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degre ...

1971-72, where he learned child health. Took his Pre-Board Examination at

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI i ...

1970-72. Became a physician after graduating from

Royal College Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

1971-72. Took a WHO Cours in Immunology at

University of Nairobi , mottoeng = In unity and work , image = Uon emblem.gif , image_size = 210px , caption = Coat of Arms of the University , type = Public , endowment ...

1973-76.

Personal life

Ongeri is married to Dr.Elizabeth and they have four children, Engineer Caroline, Nyagaka, Dr.Sylvia, Dr.Fiona. The Ongeri's are members of the

Seventh-day Adventist Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an Adventism, Adventist Protestantism, Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the Names of the days of the week#Numbered days of the week, seventh day of the ...

and Hon Ongeri as a member of the

Orange Democratic Movement The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is a centre-left political party in Kenya. It is the successor of a grassroots people's movement which was formed during the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum campaign. This movement separated in Augus ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ongeri, Samson Kegengo Living people Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) Government ministers of Kenya Foreign ministers of Kenya Kenyan Seventh-day Adventists Seventh-day Adventists in health science 1938 births People from Kisii County