'It's an edited video': Nairobi Speaker Ken Ng'ondi denies forcing a handshake, hug with Muslim woman

Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ng'ondi has defended himself over a viral video which appears to show him forcing ward representative Fatuma Abdiwahid Abey to shake his hand contrary to the dictates of her Islamic faith.

Ng'ondi on Wednesday said the video which has sparked uproar was taken during a surprise birthday party which also came following his election in September 2022.

He said the issue had been blown out of proportion and that he had already asked for forgiveness from the MCA’s family and the Muslim faithful at large.

“The birthday party organised by the honourable women leaders back in 2022 was blown out of context. The occurrence of the eventful day was never meant to discourage anyone. I have a lot of respect for women and Muslim faithful,” Ngondi told a press conference.

Nairobi MCAs, led by their majority leader Peter Imwatok and minority leader Antony Kiragu, also defended the Speaker stating that reviving the video capturing the incident was meant to cause a rift in the assembly.

“This is an edited video, I wish they would have shown the joy that was there when we were celebrating, including the women. The people circulating that are enemies of the assembly,” said Antony Kiragu, the minority leader.

The county assembly’s disciplinary committee is expected to take action against two MCAs accused of circulating the video.