Two female Members of Parliament were involved in a physical altercation at the Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, drawing both public and political attention.
The altercation, captured on video, involved Umulkheir Harun, a nominated MP under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and Falhada Iman, a representative of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). The footage, shows the two leaders engaged in a heated confrontation before it quickly escalated into a physical fight in full view of other lawmakers and journalists.
Despite the efforts of fellow female MPs to intervene and separate the two, the scuffle continued, prompting one MP to call for additional help from nearby legislators. Another voice in the background can be heard pleading with onlookers to stop recording the altercation. Eventually, Parliament’s Sargent-at-arms intervened and successfully broke up the fight. However, tensions remained high as the two MPs continued to exchange harsh words even after being separated.
Following the incident, Umulkheir issued a statement describing the fight as unfortunate and deeply regrettable. “Today, an unfortunate incident occurred on the parliamentary grounds—a situation I deeply regret both as a Member of Parliament and as a mother,” she stated. She confirmed that she had reported the matter to the appropriate authorities, citing assault.
Umulkheir emphasized that she does not condone misconduct of any form, especially in such a dignified institution. “I sincerely regret this occurrence and want to emphasize that I do not endorse or encourage any form of misconduct,” she noted, while reaffirming her commitment to maintaining decorum and integrity in her role.
She further acknowledged the demanding nature of political life but stressed that such pressures should never justify inappropriate behavior. “The political landscape is inherently challenging, but there is never justification for behaviour that undermines the integrity of our work,” she said.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on decorum within public institutions and the conduct expected of elected officials, especially within the revered chambers of Parliament.
