US TV Journalist's Disgusting Comments On Kenyan Women Spark Uproar
The TV personality was comparing voting rights in the United States (US) to those of other countries
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Fox News presenter, Emily Compagno is the latest in media personalities to have drawn the wrath of Kenyans on social media but this time over her negative sentiments on Kenyan women.
Compagno, a co-host of Outnumbered, told a group of panellists that pregnant Kenyan women are not allowed to leave the house to vote.
The TV personality, who is also a contributor on Fox News Channel, was comparing voting rights in the United States (US) to those of other countries during the late-night show.
Here's the video that went viral:
???? @FoxNews!
What is this? What is @EmilyCompagno saying? That in Kenya pregnant women can’t leave the house so they have no right to vote? What does she imagine our country is like? That statement is incorrect, misleading, condescending and should be withdrawn. pic.twitter.com/nHAoj9puZK — Pauline Njoroge, HSC (@paulinenjoroge) July 6, 2022
"What about in Kenya, where pregnant women can't leave the house so they absolutely have no constructive right to vote," she said.
Compagno, who previously served as a federal managing attorney and Acting Director at the Social Security Administration, one of the top-ten largest US agencies, faced the full-blown wrath of Kenyans On Twitter (KOT), a group known to take on just about- anyone!
They were soon joined by major figures in the political scene with one demand, for Compagno to retract her statement.
"What is this? What is Emily Compagno saying? That in Kenya pregnant women can’t leave the house so they have no right to vote?
"What does she imagine our country is like? That statement is incorrect, misleading, condescending, and should be withdrawn," Pauline Njoroge, a communications strategist, commented while being the first to share the video.
“Pregnant women in Kenya are allowed to leave the house. Pregnant women in Kenya can vote. Pregnant women get priority on voting lines. Pregnant women do give birth free of charge under the government #lindamama program. Retract your statement," Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris weighed in.
Journalist Michael Ollinga reminded Compagno of an event in 2017 where a mother gave birth at a polling station during the then-general elections and named a mix of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati and the Swahili word for 'vote'.
The IEBC points out that pregnant women, the disabled, and the elderly are given special consideration during the voting process, with the commission affording them the right to vote without queuing, like everyone else.
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), just like any other citizens, have the right, without unreasonable restrictions, to be registered as voters; vote by secret ballot in elections, and be elected to the public or political party office.
“In fact, expectant mothers do not queue to vote in Kenya. In 2017 we had a mother safely give birth at a polling station and the baby was named Chepkura which means that who's born during voting. Kenya may be having other problems but democracy levels are laudable. Check your facts," he tweeted.
Other users believed that international media houses escape after making such comments because Kenyans don't call them out.
"It happens all the time when guys throw 'facts' but you are quiet coz you don't have enough facts to disapprove and so they get away with it. Mostly in figures and matters to do with the economy," noted George Brague.
International media houses and publications have come into loggerheads with Kenyans several times over erroneous reporting of matters to do with the East African country. CNN for example angered the whole nation when it called it a 'hotbed of terror' in its headline ahead of the visit by former US President Barrack Obama in 2015.
Media personality Caroline Mutoko. /YOUTUBE
The hashtag #SomeoneTellCNN was trending several times it even forced the global station to send one of its senior executives to Nairobi to apologise.
Compagno falling under the mercy of the merciless KOT came just days after media personality Caroline Mutoko's comments on the tragic Nairobi Expressway accident at Mlolongo Toll station on Monday, July 4 sparked an uproar, despite her standing her ground in a charged video post.
