A member of the Kenyan parliament farted so powerfully during a debate that it had to be canceled.

Local media reported that the pungent smell was released into the air on Wednesday at the Kenyan regional assembly. The people present then tried to identify the culprit.

Julius Gaya is reported to have said: "Honourable Speaker, one of us has polluted the air and I know who it is."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

The accused, however, turned the situation into a simple case of 'whoever smelt it dealt it' replying: "I am not the one. I cannot do such a thing in front of my colleagues."

Speaker Edwin Kakach then tried to diffuse the situation - literally - by suggesting that the parliament take to take a break and air fresheners are brought in, saying: "Make it pleasant. Get whatever flavor you will find in any office, whether it's vanilla or strawberry."

"We cannot continue sitting in an environment that smells bad."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Thankfully, the smell soon disappeared and the parliament was able to continue its debate.

And if this has inspired you to hold it in the next time you feel a fart coming on, you might want to reconsider as dietetics and nutrition expert, Professor Clare Collins, said it can cause 'abdominal distention'. A phenomenon which means "some gas [will be] reabsorbed into the circulation and exhaled in your breath."

She continued: "Holding on too long means the build-up of intestinal gas will eventually escape via an uncontrollable fart."

This is likely what happened to our friend in Kenya.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Collins then explained why we fart: "It can be from swallowing air, or from carbon dioxide produced when stomach acid mixes with bicarbonate in the small intestine.

"Or gasses can be produced by bacteria that are located in the large intestine."

The average person farts eight times a day, according to a study, and flatulence can apparently be worsened in certain environments.

"Pressurised cabins on airplanes mean you're more likely to pass flatus due to the gas volume expanding at the lower cabin pressure, compared to being on the ground," Collins said.

A member of the Kenyan parliament farted so powerfully during a debate that it had to be canceled.

Local media reported that the pungent smell was released into the air on Wednesday at the Kenyan regional assembly. The people present then tried to identify the culprit.

Julius Gaya is reported to have said: "Honourable Speaker, one of us has polluted the air and I know who it is."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

The accused, however, turned the situation into a simple case of 'whoever smelt it dealt it' replying: "I am not the one. I cannot do such a thing in front of my colleagues."

Speaker Edwin Kakach then tried to diffuse the situation - literally - by suggesting that the parliament take to take a break and air fresheners are brought in, saying: "Make it pleasant. Get whatever flavor you will find in any office, whether it's vanilla or strawberry."

"We cannot continue sitting in an environment that smells bad."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Thankfully, the smell soon disappeared and the parliament was able to continue its debate.

And if this has inspired you to hold it in the next time you feel a fart coming on, you might want to reconsider as dietetics and nutrition expert, Professor Clare Collins, said it can cause 'abdominal distention'. A phenomenon which means "some gas [will be] reabsorbed into the circulation and exhaled in your breath."

She continued: "Holding on too long means the build-up of intestinal gas will eventually escape via an uncontrollable fart."

This is likely what happened to our friend in Kenya.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Collins then explained why we fart: "It can be from swallowing air, or from carbon dioxide produced when stomach acid mixes with bicarbonate in the small intestine.

"Or gasses can be produced by bacteria that are located in the large intestine."

The average person farts eight times a day, according to a study, and flatulence can apparently be worsened in certain environments.

"Pressurised cabins on airplanes mean you're more likely to pass flatus due to the gas volume expanding at the lower cabin pressure, compared to being on the ground," Collins said.