Bomet Women Rep Linet Toto sparks mixed reaction as she kneel before a male MP in Parliament.

Bomet Woman Representative Linet Toto knelt before Sotik MP Francis Sigei while addressing him in Parliament. This action ignited a heated debate among Members of Parliament, with female MPs condemning Toto’s gesture. However, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed defended Toto, stating that he saw nothing inappropriate in her actions, as that is the proper protocol. Toto’s gesture, although it may have appeared innocuous, was poorly received by the female MPs in attendance in the House.

The ‘Bad Girl’ Mbita MP, Millie Odhiambo, questioned the reasoning behind MP Toto kneeling before MP Sigei while speaking to him.

“Mr. Speaker my concern is Honourable Toto is kneeling. I know that the member she is speaking to is a very honorable and much older member but is she in order to be kneeling?” she questioned . Suppressing her laughter, she contended that all members of the House were equal, implying that Toto was not required to kneel. “While it demonstrates cultural respect, it is still inappropriate,” she added.

In defense of Toto, Suna East MP and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed contended that her actions were not problematic. Junet noted that Toto had recently returned from Uganda, where it is customary for women to kneel before men, implying she may have adopted this practice during her time there.

“That is the way it should be, Mr. Speaker. “That’s on a light note, Mr. Speaker,” Junet remarked. Kisii MP Dorice Donya expressed her discontent with Junet’s remarks, suggesting that he might be taken seriously, and that the husbands of female MPs could anticipate that their wives would begin kneeling while addressing them.