Danson Buya Mungatana, born on August 9, 1970, is a prominent Kenyan lawyer and politician who currently serves as the Senator for Tana River County. Known by the moniker "the crocodile eater," Mungatana has held a significant presence in Kenyan politics for over two decades, transitioning from a career in legal practice to serving in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Born to a Pokomo father and a Taita mother, Mungatana grew up primarily in Mombasa, though he spent formative years in his ancestral home in Tana River County. He attended Mary Cliff Primary School and Ronald Ngala Primary School in Mombasa before moving to Ngao, Tana River, to complete his primary education at Arap Moi Primary Boarding School, an experience he has credited with instilling in him a sense of discipline and responsibility. He later attended the prestigious Alliance High School for his secondary education. Mungatana pursued his higher education at the University of Nairobi, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1993 and later a Master of Laws (LLM) in Trade and Investment Law in 2006. He also holds a postgraduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law. Mungatana was admitted to the bar and established his legal career by founding Mungatana & Co. Advocates in 1996. While he maintained his legal practice, he entered the national political stage in the 2002 general elections, where he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Garsen Constituency on a NARC ticket. He successfully defended his seat in 2007 on a NARC-Kenya ticket, a party he helped found and for which he served as National Secretary General. During his tenure in the National Assembly (2002–2013), Mungatana served as an Assistant Minister across several government dockets, including the Ministries of Lands, Foreign Affairs, Internal Security, and Medical Services. Following his departure from the National Assembly in 2013, Mungatana shifted his focus to public service appointments and alternative political avenues. He served as the Chairman of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) board between 2013 and 2014 and was later appointed as a Commissioner at the COMESA Competition Commission in 2018. He made several unsuccessful bids for the Tana River gubernatorial seat in the 2013 and 2017 general elections before returning to elective office in 2022. In the 2022 general elections, Mungatana was elected Senator for Tana River County on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. In the Senate, he has been active in committee work, serving as a member of the Committee on Energy and the Committee on Delegated Legislation. He also chaired the Ad-Hoc Committee tasked with investigating the proliferation of religious organizations, which gained national attention for its probe into the Shakahola tragedy. As of 2026, he remains a vocal member of the UDA party, frequently engaging in national policy debates and grassroots party organizing. His career reflects a transition from grassroots advocacy and parliamentary service to high-level legislative oversight, maintaining a sustained, multi-decade presence in the complex landscape of Kenyan governance.