This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On August 8, 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded at the Kenyan parliament, sparking outrage and calls for change.
During a parliamentary session, Kwale Woman Representative Zuleika Hassan was asked to leave the chambers with her five-month-old child, prompting a heated exchange and a slight standoff.
Addressing the press after the incident, Hassan was joined by fellow female MPs, who expressed their solidarity and support for the embattled mother.
The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) swiftly condemned the episode, labeling it a clear case of discrimination against the mother, child, and the people of Kwale County.
NGEC Chairperson Joyce Mutinda stated, "The ejection of Zuleika Hassan from the chambers for showing up with her baby is unfortunate and amounts to the discrimination of mother, child and Kwale County electorate."
Furthermore, Mutinda lamented the fact that six years had passed since the Parliamentary Service Commission was mandated to establish a crèche to accommodate nursing legislators and their children, yet the initiative remained unimplemented.
NGEC has called upon the Parliamentary Service Commission to expedite the establishment of a crèche to provide a safe and conducive environment for nursing MPs and their children to carry out their legislative duties.
