A black cat was the centre of attention in Parliament when it made an unprecedented appearance in the chambers.
The docile animal stirred up excitement among the MPs present with Millie Odhiambo (Suba North) showing most concern over the cat's presence.
“Honourable Chair, I'm worried that there is a stranger in the house. We are just hearing sounds of a cat and we cannot see it, that is more worrisome than when we see it because it could be a spirit,” she stated.
Some legislators pointed at the cat which was strolling casually in the visitors' gallery.
The camera zoomed in on the cat as it made its way to a different section of the gallery, seemingly shying away from the attention it had attracted.
Millie further noted, “It is very worrisome that it is a black cat and the house needs to be evacuated. Chair. We need spiritual leaders for cleansing.”
Commenting on the matter, Majority Leader Aden Duale declared that the cat should be honoured rather than being shunned as it held some cultural significance to communities in the country.
"Chair, this is a house of the people of Kenya including wildlife and the cat is representing the people of Kenya. What we need to do is feed it. I will tell you not to mess with a black cat and people from Coast can tell us more,” he explained eliciting laughs from some legislators.
The moment was ephemeral in nature as Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu, who was the chair during the session, directed that the cat is left alone as the house proceeds with its business.
"It is important for us to note that the stranger in the house is not a human being, it is a cat and cats are not Members of Parliament. It may represent the cats but not the House," she conveyed.
Here is the video:
