NAIROBI, Kenya – East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament, Falhada Iman, has issued a public apology following a heated confrontation with ODM-nominated MP Umulkheir Harun at Parliament grounds.
The altercation, which escalated into a physical scuffle, was captured on camera and widely circulated on social media, drawing significant attention.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Iman expressed deep regret over the incident, calling it “unfortunate and unacceptable.”
She acknowledged that her behavior fell short of the high standards expected from elected leaders, particularly in a public setting.
“While I initially exercised restraint in the face of repeated inflammatory remarks, the situation regrettably escalated beyond control,” Iman said. “In the heat of the moment, my response crossed the line of decorum that is expected of a public servant.”
Iman emphasized that she takes full responsibility for her actions, asserting that elected officials must always uphold the highest standards of behavior, especially in moments of conflict.
“Let me be unequivocal: no circumstance justifies such a breach of conduct, and I take full accountability for my actions,” she stated.
This apology follows an announcement from National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who revealed that Iman would be barred from accessing Parliament for 90 days while a full investigation into the matter takes place.
Meanwhile, Nominated MP Umulkheir Harun also spoke publicly about the altercation, calling the incident “deeply regrettable” and expressing her remorse both as a lawmaker and as a mother.
“Today, an unfortunate incident occurred on the parliamentary grounds, a situation I deeply regret,” Harun said.
The ODM MP further accused Iman of having long-standing grievances against her work in Parliament.
Harun alleged that Iman approached her with the intent to provoke a confrontation.
“My colleague from EALA, who has expressed consistent opposition to my work, confronted me in a manner I found completely unacceptable,” she said. “She came to Parliament with the sole intent of attacking me, catching me completely off guard.”
Harun confirmed that she had reported the incident to the relevant authorities and expressed hope that due process would be followed.
Footage of the altercation, which surfaced online on Tuesday, shows the two lawmakers physically clashing while other female MPs attempt to separate them.
Amid the commotion, one MP can be heard calling for help, while another pleads with bystanders to stop recording the incident.
Order was eventually restored when the Sergeant-at-Arms intervened, separating the two MPs.
However, even after the separation, the exchange of verbal insults continued.
