Fox host sparks storm with comments on Kenyan women

Fox News host Emily Compagno has attracted a storm of rebuke on Twitter for comments that "Kenyan pregnant women can't leave the house so they absolutely have no constructive right to vote".

She was commenting on women's voting rights in the US and drew comparisons with Kenya and Oman.

Kenyan law grants equal voting rights to all adults and pregnant women are given priority in voting queues.

Women politicians and Twitter users in the country have rebuked Ms Compagno's comments.

Kitui county governor, Charity Ngilu, urged Ms Compagno to "start by locating Kenya on the map first maybe".

Esther Passaris, the Woman Representative of the capital, Nairobi, urged the Fox News host to retract her statement.

"Pregnant women in Kenya are allowed to leave the house. Pregnant women in Kenya can vote. Pregnant women get priority on voting lines," she tweeted.

Acclaimed author Yvonne Owuor was critical of "American-style arguments".

"I hear researching ideas before publicly pontificating is a crime there," she said.

Derrick Kathurima was more reconciliatory.

"You’d be blessed to live in our beautiful Kenya. Now, please offer our sisters, moms, wives the apology they deserve."

This article originally appeared in BBC News

Photo: Fox News