This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On October 22, 2019, Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi took to the stand to recount her harrowing experience of being assaulted by Wajir East MP Rashid Kassim in June 2019, within Parliament precincts.
According to Gedi, the incident occurred after Kassim started accusing her of failing to allocate money for his constituency. She explained that she had allocated only Ksh.100 million to the county, which was to be used for the people's priorities, including roads and water.
However, Kassim's accusations quickly turned into a heated argument, resulting in him punching Gedi twice, on her left jaw and neck. The court heard how Homa Bay County Women Rep intervened and tried to pull Kassim aside, with the Sergeant at arms from Parliament also joining in.
Gedi was taken to the Speaker's office and later recorded a statement at Parliament police station. She was treated at Karen Hospital and discharged on the same day.
Speaking in court, Gedi expressed her disappointment at the incident, saying it was not just as a woman but as a wife and a mother. She pleaded for justice and urged women not to go through the same pain.
On June 15, 2019, Kassim denied charges related to the incident and was released on a Ksh.50,000 cash bail.
