Several Kenyans are knocking Kenyan MP Silvanus Osoro following the uproar generated in parliament when a ministerial nominee Peninah Malonza was rejected.
Malonza was purportedly disapproved for not demonstrating sufficient knowledge of the ministry and that ‘she might have been on her monthly period.’
Malonza was a nominee for the position of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage minister but a parliamentary committee recommended rejecting her.
A sitting of the whole parliament has however overruled that rejection and she is now cleared for the appointment.
The parliamentary vetting committee said the decision to reject Malonza was because she failed to demonstrate to the panel her knowledge of issues about the ministry.
In trying to defend Malonza, the MP who is being accused of sexism appeared to suggest she failed to impress the vetting team because she may have been on her period but that this should not rule her out.
Silvanus Osoro, MP for South Mugirango said “The rejection ought to be on matters that are serious… not on issues of presentation to the committee, maybe she wasn’t dressed very well, maybe she was on her period.”
Angered by the remarks, a female legislator called for MPs to stick to issues, not sideshows or trivial matters, when deliberating on women’s competencies.
“You cannot trivialise women’s issues to become about our moods, emotions, periods, that, that day I did not wake up on the right side of the bed, that’s why I didn’t answer the questions right.” MP Naisula Lesuuda stated pointedly.