Drama as Two Female MPs Clash at Parliament in Full View of Cameras
Drama unfolded at the Parliament Buildings on Tuesday after a physical altercation broke out between two female Members of Parliament, drawing public attention as it happened in full view of cameras.
A video seen by The Star captures the confrontation between Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominated MP Umulkheir Harun and East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Falhada Iman. The footage shows the two lawmakers exchanging blows as fellow female MPs attempt, unsuccessfully, to intervene.
Amid the chaos, one MP is heard urgently calling for assistance from colleagues who were watching from a distance, while another pleads with onlookers to stop recording the incident.
Parliament’s Sargent-at-Arms eventually intervened, managing to separate the feuding legislators. Despite the intervention, the MPs continued to trade verbal insults.
Following the scuffle, MP Umulkheir issued a statement describing the incident as “unfortunate” and expressing deep regret.
“Today, an unfortunate incident occurred on parliamentary grounds—a situation I deeply regret both as a Member of Parliament and as a mother,” she said.
Umulkheir confirmed that she had reported the incident to the appropriate authorities, stating, “I have made a complaint on the assault with the necessary institutions.”
She emphasized that she does not condone misconduct of any kind.
“I sincerely regret this occurrence and want to emphasize that I do not endorse or encourage any form of misconduct. While I am not providing further comments at this time, I remain fully committed to upholding the respectful and dignified standards expected of our institution and myself, particularly as a Muslim woman,” the statement read.
She concluded by calling for a more respectful political environment, saying: “The political landscape is inherently challenging, but there is never justification for behaviour that undermines the integrity of our work. I hope that together we can foster a more respectful and constructive environment moving forward.”
