NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 14 — The Senate was engaged in an animated debate on Tuesday after one of its members showed up in stained trousers in an apparent menstrual activism campaign.
Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba walked into the precincts of Parliament and proceeded to the Senate Chambers with red stains on her white suit.
She was later to table a notice of motion on a law to provide for free sanitary pads as part of efforts to end period poverty, the Senate revealed.
Challenged by colleagues on the inappropriate presentation, Orwoba stood her ground saying her menstrual cycle cannot impede her legislative role.
Senators led by Senator Tabitha Mutinda were however convinced that Orwoba was faking the mess, a move she termed indecent especially from a leader.
“I do not understand whether she is on the natural women menstrual cycle or she is faking it. It is so indecent because this is a natural thing that as women we go through, but our society and culture requires privacy,” Mutinda retorted.
“It disturbs me as a woman on what do we indicate for our younger generation that looks upon us on how we dress and conduct ourselves,” she went on.
“What picture are we portraying?” Mutinda posed.
Senate condemnation
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, Kilifi’s Stewart Madzayo and Kitui’s Enock Wambua blasted Orwoba for publicly exposing herself instead of handling the situation in a respectful and a dignified manner.
“What Senator Gloria has done to this House today is disgrace and a lot of shame. This should not have happened and must not be allowed to ever happen whatever the reason, whatever the cause,” Senator Wambua said.
His sentiments were echoed by Kina.
“If senator Gloria was being honest of which she is not in this case and as a mature person she would have gone to the bathroom and covered herself,” the Narok Senator said.
“Even the other female Senators would have given her something to wear but they know that she is picketing.”
Madzayo who doubles up as Senate Minority Leader argued that although it was natural for women to go through menstruation, it should be a private affair.
He took issue with the manner in which Senator Orwoba publicized her “menstrual cycle”.
“We all know how the cycle works, we have wives and daughters, but they are not allowed to make this public,” he said.
Orwoba activism
In her defense, Orwoba maintained she had accidentally stained herself and that she did not see the need to go back home for a change.
She accused her colleagues of stigmatization.
“We have a girl who killed herself because of the same thing that I am going through and now I understand why because it is the women who are making it a crime,” she protested.
“Is it because it is valentine’s day? Are we not supposed to have periods on valentine’s day?” she posed.
Orwoba dismissed those who labeled the incident as disgraceful.
“I am shocked that someone can stand here and say the House has been disgraced, because a woman has had her periods?” she asked.
“So, women are not supposed to be in the Senate because they have periods? I am well dressed, and I have covered myself,” she went on.
After a heated debate, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi requested Orwoba to go and change her outfit before returning to the chambers.
“There may be four or five other lady Senators going through that too, but they are not showing, meaning they have taken proper measures,” Kingi remarked.
The Speaker while noting being on periods is not a crime however ruled Orwoba as being out of order.
