Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has waded into the raging debate of ageism, dismissing those mocking and mnaking fun of others on the basis of age.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the MP who has severally described herself as a "bad girl" said there's absolutely nothing wrong with people aging.
She said she had chosen to bring up the topic as she prepares to celebrate her 60th birthday soon because of her concern about the unhealthy debate about ageism in recent times.
Millie said women are particularly stereotyped because of their age, with many referred to us "old" when they hit a certain age bracket, but men who are much older are never labelled as such.
"I'm also soon turning 60 in a few days and I'm emphasising that especially because of very recent gendered ageism that you find a lot of times especially those of us who are women leaders, even when you are feeling very nice, fine and sexy somebody tells you 'you old woman'," she said.
"But there's nothing wrong with being old," she added, saying people don't need to be reminded about their age when their physical features would naturally manifest that fact.
"You see men who are much much older and nobody tells them that they are old, but madam speaker we shall not be moved because as women, we are attacked on all fronts," she said.
Millie spoke during debate on the Harm Reduction Bill sponsored by Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris.
The Bill seeks to shift drug and substance use disorder response from a criminal offence to a public health disorder, designating individuals with substance use disorders as patients in need of medical care rather than criminals.
"We do not charge, we arrest. The people that should be charged are the ones who peddle and traffic, the police who fail to make sure that the drugs are not everywhere," Passaris said while presenting her arguements to support of the Bill.
claimed that some people had mocked her, calling her old.
Millie said being old should be seen as a badge of honour and not shame.
"So I want to thank you Esther that there's something that you're doing other than bringing this Bill. You are also bringing style and class and fashion that people need to know and grace as you age," she said.
Millie said even in their 60s and 70s, women can "still be sexy and fine".
"There's no problem with that, so let people not bring for us nyef nyef about being old. We are pretty, old and fine."
The Harm Reduction Bill is now at its Second Reading stage.
