Zuleikha Hassan, a female member of Kenya’s Parliament was asked to leave the chambers after she came in with her 5-month-baby on Wednesday, 5th August, 2019.
According to Zuleijkha Hassan who is a mother of three, she made the decision to come to work with her youngest child after she was unable to find a sitter.
On entering the chambers, security guards had stopped her from taking her baby into the chamber in the Nairobi capital but she had insisted on taking in her daughter.
Deputy Speaker Christoper Omulele repeatedly ordered her out of the chamber and security guards gathered round her to ensure her removal.
Zuleikha Hassan in an interview with CNN said she knew she would be sent out but had to attend the session.
“I was just tired. I mean young women all over the country are facing worse situations. They can’t afford a nanny, and they have to decide whether they should breastfeed their child or go to work,” Hassan told CNN.
She also said that the Parliarment had promised to provide a daycare in 2013, but hadfailed to do so.
“Private companies have such provisions, but as the highest lawmaking body of the country, really we should be an example,” Hassan said.
Despite the objection she faced from the Parliarment, women members of the house followed her out in solidarity.
“We are trying to encourage more women to come into politics, to come into the workspaces, to get out and help out the economy in other ways, so we have to support them,” Hassan told CNN.
Despite the objections from MPs, Hassan said others supported her as she was being told to leave.
This incident is another reminder for the government and the public sector to provide family-friendly workspaces for mothers.
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