A Kenyan member of Parliament was arrested for allegedly slapping a female colleague who sits on the budget committee, according to the BBC.
Rashid Kassim allegedly struck Fatuma Gedi in the parking lot after she did not allocate money to his constituency. A picture of Gedi after the incident showed her apparently bleeding from the mouth.
Wajir Women Rep Fatuma Gedi allegedly assaulted inside parliament buildings by Rashid Kassim Mp Wajir East.#ArrestHonKassim pic.twitter.com/zSxpO1nzjM
— Hon Lee Makwiny (@leemakwiny) June 13, 2019
Several female members of Parliament walked out in protest following the alleged assault, according to the BBC.
"Some of our male colleagues started mocking us and saying it was slapping day," Sabina Wanjiru Chege, one of the members, told BBC Focus on Africa.
The male lawmakers, she said, told their woman counterparts that "women needed to have manners" and "we need to know how to treat men".
ALL WOMEN MPs walk out of Budget speech sitting of Parliament to protest the assault of Wajir Woman Representative.
— The Mnur Feruz (@Mnurferuz) June 13, 2019
Attack to woman is attack to the nation #BudgetKE2019 #JusticeForFatumaGedi pic.twitter.com/4rlN6zQNZ8
The female lawmakers proceeded to walk out and demand Kassim’s arrest, according to the BBC. "We are all members of Parliament … We are no lesser than them," Chege said.
