The “punishment” meted out to a Kenyan female lawmaker for bringing her baby to the floor of the National Assembly has sharply divided social media.
According to Kenya’s NTV, the Kwale women representative, Zuleikha Juma, was kicked out of the National Assembly after she walked into the chamber with a baby.
Ms. Juma was reported to have said she had an emergency and had to choose between coming with the baby to work or not coming to work altogether.
However, the incident has sent social media into a frenzy, with many commentators divided over the propriety or otherwise of her action and resultant “punishment”.
Read comments monitored on Twitter:
Let her get a nanny. She is handsomely paid, probably. A parliament is a place for serious business. It is not a creche, biko. A baby's cry can be obstructive.
She is also paid to contribute to serious national importance at the parliament, not to come be nursing a baby.
— Nicholas Ibekwe (@nicholasibekwe) August 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/Puffkagochi/status/1159024021771620353
Change the standing orders…you shouldn't punish mothers and babies
— N. Chege 🇰🇪 (@_theCustodian) August 7, 2019
Me myself I don't see the problem of coming with the baby to Parliament,moreover MPIGS are very many in the Parliament until they loose what to do so better carry your baby and breastfeed there. A good reason to #PunguzaMizigoBill2019.
— Elias Ndanyi. (@NdanyiElias) August 7, 2019
Wooh!!! Calling out a mum for playing her maternal role selflessly to serve her people … what was so wrong? Unfriendly work spaces are the problem. Now you know how hard it is formany other moms , some with newborns and have inflexible bosses
— Murugi Mensler (@NKaraga) August 7, 2019
Someone tell her to keep her theatrics to herself… Nation Assembly is a house of honor and there is no legitimate explanation to bringing a baby to the house
— @jose_nderi (@joseph_nderi18) August 7, 2019
She should be given an award already. New question: Why is Parliament's architecture so ignorant of the fact that its female occupants/users will be nursing mothers at one point or another?
— Aduma Mutiva (@nepmutiva) August 7, 2019
This is immoral. What is wrong with having an infant in Parliament?
— shadi (@shadipaul) August 7, 2019
Activism doesn't help a thing,am sure she did this to seek attention. Live the baby alone madame, don't use a stone in nonexistent fights…
— Nderi Gideon (@Kaungania) August 7, 2019
Where was she supposed to leave the baby? She had an emergency for crying out loud. Anyway this is kenya!
— Dimple_dented. (@PdeeOrutwa) August 7, 2019
These Kind of men in this parliament are just full of 'self comfort' and Prejudice. I see nothing wrong with coming with a baby in the chamber. Infact, the best thing was to wait for her contribution then excuse her out in a humane manner. Washenziii!!!!!!
— Hon. Stephen M Ngumi (@hon_ngumi) August 7, 2019
Media ought to be objective. The honourable member is a person with means. Kids can be a distraction & can bring the bring the proceedings of any meeting to a halt when they choose to with incessant cries. How much does it cost to get a nanny for the period she attends sittings?
— @Sir_Rawlings (@Sir_Rawlings) August 7, 2019
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