Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa found himself on the wrong side when he threatened to assault Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris with physical assault the National Assembly on Thursday, November 21, 2019.
The Kimilili MP had stood to give his view on the case involving Garissa Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi where she had been accused of leaking to the media a letter from Director Criminal Investigations George Kinoti to National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai.
Barasa talked about protecting the integrity of the house by instituting legal measures on the woman rep, inciting anger from female MPs.
He directed his anger towards the Nairobi woman representative who was protesting right in front of him, threatening to punch her if she did not cease.
"Honorable speaker I will punch this lady who is shouting me down. What does she think she is doing? Who does she think she is?" he posed, before hurling expletives at the protesting Passaris.
Speaker Justin Muturi tried to intervene to no avail as members took sides in the scuffle that ensued even as Passaris and Barasa continued exchanging insults.
The angry speaker's calls to Passaris went unanswered, and when she approached his desk a few minutes later, he ordered her away, explaining that he could not accept disorder in the house.
The speaker then called the house to order and cautioned the members to stick to the codes of conduct or risk punitive measures.
"It is only fair that the house conducts itself in a manner that is dignified. When I call out a member to caution them, I am merely warning that any persistence in that action will result in action being taken against that member," Muturi exhorted them.
The Members of Parliament later threw out the report by the Powers and Privileges Committee that found Gedi guilty of breaching House privileges by leaking the confidential letter to the media.
