A Kenyan senator has defended her decision to walk into parliament with a period stain on her trousers on Tuesday.
Gloria Orwoba was ordered to leave the chamber by the speaker, who said she needed to go and change her clothes.
Proceedings were disrupted by some lawmakers who accused her of an "inappropriate dress code".
In a BBC Focus on Africa radio interview, Ms Orwoba said that "what happened yesterday at the senate was an accident", but when the sergeant at arms tried to "cover me" and get her back into her car she decided to "walk the talk":
Ms Orwoba added:
The culture that we have inculcated is to shame the period. It's like something completely horrible is happening to you.
That culture has been embedded and it's completely rooted. It is known that when you're on your period you should hide. You should not speak of it and it's a secret.
What was shocking was that even the women senators were coming to me saying: 'You know you're really bringing down our dignity as women in the senate and you need to just cover yourself and this is inappropriate'."
After leaving the senate building, Ms Orowba did not change her clothes. She spoke to the media and then visited a school in the capital, Nairobi, to distribute sanitary pads.
Latest Stories
-
Bahamas World Relays: Ghana paired with world and Olympic champions in Heat 1
7 hours -
Bahamas 2024 Relays: Star-studded cast ready to put on pre-Paris show
7 hours -
Bahamas Relays preview: clash of global title-winning teams in men’s 4x100m
7 hours -
Arsenal keeper Raya wins Premier League Golden Glove
8 hours -
Iñaki Williams scores twice in Athletic Bilbao’s win over Getafe
8 hours -
Argument with Salah ‘completely resolved’ – Klopp
8 hours -
Reus to leave Dortmund at the end of the season
8 hours -
Uefa confirms 26-man squads for Euro 2024
9 hours -
Teacher Unions press home demands for the new allowances
9 hours -
Media’s failure to hold government accountable for ‘galamsey’ alarming – Mahama
9 hours -
Keta Presbytery urges Akufo-Addo to assent to anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
9 hours -
Ghanaian midfielder Lawrence Ofori nets maiden goal of the season with stunner against Vizela
9 hours -
Community fearful after off-duty policemen shot dead at East Trasacco
9 hours -
Dext Technology partners KNUST to train basic school teachers on STEM
9 hours -
My efforts led to remarkable transformation in Appiatse – Lands Minister
9 hours