A Kenyan MP has been arrested after a female colleague accused him of slapping her for not giving money to his constituency.

Rashid Kassim allegedly assaulted Fatuma Gedi, who sits on the budget committee, in the parliament car park in Nairobi on Thursday.

The MP for Wajir East, in northeast Kenya, reportedly confronted his colleague about why she had not allocated funds to his constituency, since she sits on the budget committee.

An image of Ms Gedi in tears with blood in her mouth was circulated on Twitter after the alleged assault.

Video footage of female MPs walking out of parliament in protest was also shared on the social media site, alongside the hashtag #JusticeForFatumaGedi.

In a video circulating on social media, MP Fatuma Gedi said she was walking out of the Parliament in Nairobi Thursday morning, when she met Kassim, who she says confronted her over why she did not allocate money to his constituency.
Gedi said after explaining her position, she was told she was “stupid” and was struck several times in the mouth and jaw. “And then he hit me, he punched me here,” Gedi said, gesturing towards her mouth. “And then again, and I was shocked.”

MP Sabina Wanjiru Chege told the BBC that male MPs had been mocking their female colleagues and “saying it was slapping day”.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kenya confirmed Mr Kassim was arrested in the parliament grounds on Thursday evening.

A spokesperson tweeted: “Hon. Rashid Kassim Amin, the Member of Parliament for Wajir East was today evening arrested within the Precincts of Parliament by @DCI_Kenya Detectives in connection with causing actual bodily harm to @Hon_FatumaGedi.

“Further investigations are ongoing.”

Kassim has not commented on the alleged incident.