On Wednesday 29th August afternoon at 2.30 pm, female MPs shocked their male colleagues when they walked straight to the parliament chambers wearing white head-gears.
Not known to male fellows, the female MPs were protesting against gender equality related issues in the parliament.
Mr. Speaker I want you to guide us on whether what we are seeing is in order and to assure us whether we are safe,” asked Garissa Town MP and Majority leader Aden Duale.
Hon.Duale also asked the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s to assure the entire house if the female MPs were observing the standing orders of the house.
“I want you to tell us whether it is within the standing orders in terms of the dress code because Mr Speaker, this dress and this group of MPs who are wearing this particular headscarf are threatening, very intimidating.”
Nominated MP Cecil Mbarire assured the male MPs that they had come in peace, but wanted to pass a gender based equality message.
“Mr. Speaker, we come in peace as women Members of Parliament, we are the 44th tribe of this country. We are coming to put a message across, we have had a Constitution since 2010 that had specific timelines for certain legislative proposals to be passed by this House,” said the MP.
The speaker did not have any issue with the attire but rather commended them, however Lugari MP Ayub Savula viewed it as a form of intimidation.
“Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence to give guidance to Hon Mbarire whether this Parliament legislates through intimidation or an attire, we have procedures and rules, you don’t need to intimidate us through a new attire, give us further explanation on how you want us to implement the gender rule but not through attire,” said Mr. Savula.
The house proceeded with their day agenda.
