NAIROBI, Kenya – In a bizarre twist of events at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, political tensions spilled over—literally—when two female lawmakers were caught on video physically confronting each other, leaving the public both stunned and glued to their screens.
Nominated MP Umulkheir Harun (ODM) and Falhada Iman, representing Kenya in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), were filmed exchanging heated words and escalating into a full-blown brawl, as other Members of Parliament scrambled to intervene.
And yes, the entire altercation unfolded in front of rolling cameras.
Women MPs fighting in the precincts of Parliament. The 2/3 gender manenos might be an exaggeration of representation!
Punches, Phones, and Pleas for Help
In footage now circulating on social media and news platforms, the confrontation begins with a war of words and quickly snowballs into a chaotic scuffle.
Several female MPs rush in to diffuse the situation, but their efforts prove futile.
One MP is heard pleading for assistance: “Help us, please, help!” while another urges colleagues to stop recording and intervene instead.
Enter the Sergeant-at-Arms—Parliament’s version of security detail—who finally steps in to separate the warring MPs.
But even after the physical clash ends, the verbal insults keep flying.
Video of female MPs fighting in Parliament surfaces online nation.africa/kenya/news/pol…
Umulkheir Harun Breaks Silence: “I Deeply Regret”
Hours after the scuffle, Umulkheir Harun issued a statement calling the incident “unfortunate” and said she had formally lodged a complaint with the relevant authorities.
“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 wrote.
Emphasizing her role not only as a legislator but also as a Muslim woman, Umulkheir distanced herself from the chaos, insisting that such behavior goes against her principles.
“While I am not providing further comments at this time, I remain fully committed to upholding the respectful and dignified standards expected of our institution and myself,” she added.
Her statement, laced with remorse, underlined a need for a cultural shift in how leaders handle conflict in high-pressure political spaces. Here’s a look at past controversies in Parliament.
While details on what sparked the brawl remain unclear, the incident has reignited debate over decorum in public office and the pressures facing women in Kenya’s political arena.
Though Parliament is no stranger to heated exchanges, physical fights—especially between lawmakers—are rare and certainly not part of the job description.
The incident also casts a spotlight on the challenges of maintaining professionalism in a political climate often dominated by intense rivalries and high-stakes agendas.
Tuesday’s incident may have started as just another day in Parliament, but it ended as a viral sensation and a national talking point.
While both Umulkheir and Falhada are yet to appear jointly in public following the brawl, the event underscores a pressing need for mechanisms that foster healthier conflict resolution in government spaces.
If anything, the scuffle reminds us that while politics is personal, leadership must rise above the fray. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time Parliament got its own version of HR.
