• Chepkonga rose on a point of order and discouraged the use of the word ‘periods’ on the floor of the House citing cultural beliefs.
• Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Boss furiously dismissed Chepkonga saying nothing is embarrassing or shameful to speak about menstruation in public.
Image: SCREENGRAB
The momentary drama was on Wednesday witnessed on the floor of the National Assembly after Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga rose on a point of order to discourage the mention of periods "in the presence of elders".
It arose from the debate on the government’s promise mid-last year that girls in every public school would get free sanitary pads.
Kisii Woman Rep Dorice Donya wanted Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to allow the use of the word ‘lie’ on the floor of the House in reference to the promise which she said never came to be to which the speaker said “it will not” and demanded that she withdraws the word.
“Okay, I withdraw,” she said.
“But the reason Mr Speaker on the 3rd of May, we had the minister for EducationMachogu when he came here; he told women reps on the sanitary pads issue. On the 3rd of October, we were told we were going to be answered. Till today, the allocation of sanitary pads which is very paramount to our girls is less than Sh1 billion,” she said.
Donya explained that girls are currently in school and probably going through a hard time since not enough sanitary pads have been supplied as promised by the government.
“This is the second month our girls are in school. As a woman, you can go twice a month and when you eat well it is a whole month. You can go three times Mr Speaker,” she said.
“We’ve not been given any answer Mr Speaker yet we are told Parliament is a House of order, it is a hallowed House. What are we?” she posed while emphasizing that the word ‘lie’ should be considered parliamentary language.
It was at this point that Chepkonga rose on a point of order and discouraged the use of the word ‘periods’ on the floor of the House citing cultural beliefs.
“You know decorum requires that you consider the sensitivity of the matter you are contributing to. Two, we all belong to different communities that are congregated here in this Assembly. Some of the things are not said when among elders,” he said to loud roar from members.
He went on:
“You know Mr Speaker there are children that are watching, there are boys. Boys are not told such kind of things at an infant age. And I’m talking about my culture. Even you the one who is shouting, that culture of yours allows you to say such things but mine does not allow.”
"You can even see the deputy speaker is on a point of order to agree with me."
Deputy Speaker and Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Boss furiously dismissed Chepkonga saying nothing is embarrassing or shameful to speak about menstruation in public.
“Honourable Speaker I want to ask honourable Chepkonga who is MP to apologise to women and girls of this country,” she said to loud applause of approval.
“There’s nothing shameful, there’s nothing to hide about having periods because honourable Chepkonga has a wife who had periods and gave birth for him, so please there’s nothing shameful” she added.
In his ruling on the matter, Speaker Wetang’ula dismissed the concerns as trivial.
“I thought we were discussing very serious business and we are now degenerating into trivia that is not helpful.”