Drama ensued in the Senate on Tuesday after a female MP accessed the debating chamber wearing ‘blood-stained’ clothes.
The move by the UDA nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba attracted the attention of her colleague who raised the matter on the floor.
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda sought speaker Amason Kingi’s advice on Orwoba's dress code.
“I do stand seeking your guidance on the speaker’s rules rule number 5. I seek your advice if senator Gloria is properly dressed for the House,” Mutinda said.
“I find it very uncomfortable. Very inappropriate for our colleague Senator Gloria to step in and you don't understand if she is on a normal woman cycle or she is faking it. It is so indecent" Mutinda said.
Minority leader Stewart Madzayo and his deputy Enoch Wambua also criticised Orwoba for lacking respect for the House of the Senate and the members.
“What Senator Gloria has done to this House is disgrace and a lot of shame,” Wambua said.
But Orwoba defended her dress code, saying she experienced ‘periods’ on her way to Parliament.
“I'm just dressed as per the Standing Orders. I'm covered. I have suit. I have collars. I'm just short of a tie.
The stain was, however, not of period blood but artificial colouring.
The Senator is advocating for free sanitary pad distribution through a motion, to girls who can't afford the basic items every menstrual cycle.
“This is the period stigma that is making our girls kill themselves," Senator Orwoba said.
"There is a girl who killed herself because of the same issue that I'm going through. And now I understand why. Because it is the women who are trying to make this thing a crime,” she said.
In her motion, Orwoba wants the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action to facilitate provision of feminine hygiene products in all public schools.
Further she wants the Ministry to ensure all schools that do not have bathrooms that facilitate privacy, cleanliness or proper disposal of hygrine products are properly equipped.
“The Ministry should create awareness and take advocacy measures on reproductive health issues related to period poverty.
She wants the Ministry to ensure that sanitary products will be obtained timely, consistently and in a way that respects the dignity of the concerned persons.