Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has defended her Kwale counterpart Zuleika Hassan after she was kicked out of Parliament for carrying her child.
In a tweet, she opined that Hassan was treated in an inhumane manner considering that it is world breastfeeding day.
“I stand in solidarity with my sister and fellow working mom, Hon. Zuleika Hassan. As we conclude #WorldBreastfeedingWeek, I call on @MOH_Kenya to prioritize breastfeeding, and ensure women are supported to exclusively breastfeed in their homes, communities and at their workplace,” she tweeted.
Luanda legislator Christopher Omulele, who was serving as the Speaker at the time of the incident, asked Hassan to leave the chambers after she emerged with the child.
Omulele said Hassan has a right to breastfeed the child, but that was not the right place to do so.
“As much as she has a right to take care of her child, this not the right place, I therefore direct that you immediately withdraw from the chambers,” ordered Omulele as quoted by Nation.
Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai and Laikipia North legislator Sarah Korere also defended Hassan stating that breastfeeding mothers need care rather than harassment whenever they decided to appear with their children in public.