August 7, 2019
Parliament does not have special rooms not just for the staff of parliament but even for female MPs who are lactating, Homabay MP Peter Kaluma said.
Kwale woman Representative Zulekha Hassan was today ordered out of Parliament when she came to the house with her five-month old infant.
Ms. Hassan told journalists that she had been left with no choice but show up with the baby in the chambers due to an emergency at home. She, however, maintained that “if a parliament had a creche where staff and MPs can nurse their babies, then she wouldn’t have gone to the chambers with the baby”.
The speaker termed Zulekha’s move as unprecedented and ordered her out of the chambers.
A few male legislators defended Zulekha from being ejected, including Homabay MP Peter Kaluma, who said that Parliament is not implementing its own resolutions.
“I thank Honorable Zuleka for doing what she did today because she has confirmed to the world that parliament does not have special rooms not just for the staff of parliament but even for female MPs who are lactating,” Kaluma said.
The incident, which ironically comes as the world is commemorating the Breastfeeding week, has elicited a lot of debate on social media. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies.
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