This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On October 22, 2019, Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi testified in court against MP Kassim Rashid, who has been charged with assaulting her in the precincts of Parliament.
According to Gedi, the incident occurred after they differed on budgetary allocations to constituencies in Wajir County in June 2019. She claimed that Rashid punched her twice, injuring her jaw.
"I screamed loudly and Homa Bay County Woman Rep Gladys Wanga intervened," Gedi told a Milimani Court magistrate.
She recalled that the incident sparked a protest from women MPs, who stormed out of the budget speech in solidarity with her.
During the incident, Gedi met Rashid while in the company of Wanga, and Rashid complained about cash allocations. Gedi responded that the entire county had been allocated Sh100m.
"The accused told me I was unfair and then threw blows at me," Gedi testified.
She pleaded for justice, stating that the incident demeaned her and caused her pain as a woman, wife, and mother.
Mr Rashid has denied assaulting Gedi and is out on bond. Ms Wanga has been listed as a key witness in the case.
