It’s time we embraced the rights of nursing mothers

Hon Zuleikha Hassan made history and international headlines by being the first parent to take her daughter to work in the chamber of the Kenyan National Assembly. The incident momentarily interrupted another important debate on Kenya-Somalia maritime border dispute. It also provided the country with an opportunity to reflect again on why some of our workplaces are still out of bounds for our infants.

Citing standing orders, presiding Speaker Chris Omulele ordered her out of the chamber for bringing a stranger. Before she left with a number of male and female MPs supporting her, other MPs had threatened her with gross misconduct and disrespecting the dignity of the august House. Social and mass media exploded with opinions in favour and against her action. Zuleikha and her infant had succeeded in bringing international breastfeeding week onto the floor of our Parliament.