Women MPs from the Maa community yesterday defended Defence Cabinet secretary-nominee Soipan Tuya against attacks directed at her on social media.

The MPs from Kajiado, Narok, Laikipia and Samburu counties, led by Narok North’s Agnes Pareiyo, hit out at Tuya’s critics, demanding that they keep out of her personal life.

“As Maa women, we condemn with the strongest terms possible the absolute and disrespect meted out on her. Her personal life is a private affair. The statements being shared repeatedly on social media amount to libel and slander,” they said.

“We personally know Tuya. What we witnessed recently is actually gender-based violence, and we are here to say that particularly the people who edited videos to make her look bad and to malign her should be brought to book because this is a country of laws.”

The lawmakers spoke in the wake of online attacks directed at Tuya’s nomination to the Cabinet by President William Ruto last Friday.

Ruto had nominated Tuya for the Environment and Climate Change ministry before moving her to the Defence docket on Tuesday.

Immediately after her nomination, Tuya became the subject of vicious attacks that went viral on social media, with her critics questioning her marital status.

Yesterday, the women MPs defended Tuya, saying her personal life had nothing to do with her suitability and competence to do the work she was nominated for.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo also defended Tuya, demanding that she be accorded the same standard as men when it comes to jobs and opportunities.

“I just want to say that it is unfortunate that in this age and time, when a woman leader is nominated for any position, what we look at is the issue of her sexuality,” she noted.