Fox News journalist, Emily Rose Compagno, has defended her comments on Kenyan women after coming under sharp criticism from online users.

In a statement released through the news outlet's spokesperson on Friday, July 8, Campagno stated that she could not apologise for her remarks stating that she was informed by reports that can be accessed on the internet.

She referenced the World Publication Review which highlighted that women in Kenya were denied their democratic right to vote.

An image of Kenyans in a queue to cast their vote in a past election.  FILE

"The Grazia Daily wrote that in Western Kenya, “women expecting children are prohibited by cultural norms to be seen in public, meaning that a huge portion of women are unable to go out to vote.” 

"The other site, World Population Review, wrote: “Kenyan women are not allowed to take long walks (such as to the polls) and pregnant women are forbidden from leaving the house. High rates of disease and a history of election-related violence also keep women at home," she stated. 

While appearing on a review show on Wednesday, July 7, the journalist - while comparing Kenya to the US - stated that pregnant women could not exercise their democratic rights such as voting.

"What about in Kenya, where pregnant women can't leave the house so they absolutely have no right to vote," she claimed on the show.

Campagno's sentiments saw her come under sharp criticism as Kenyans called out Fox News and the journalist asking her to apologise for her remarks as they were misleading.

Kenyans on Twitter, popularly referred to as KOT, started the #SomeoneTellFoxNews hashtag to coerce the journalist to apologise.

Pauline Njoroge, a communications strategist who first shared the video, stated that the journalist's sentiments were demeaning to women in the country.

"What is this? What is Emily Compagno saying? That in Kenya pregnant women can’t leave the house so they have no right to vote? What does she imagine our country is like? That statement is incorrect, misleading, condescending, and should be withdrawn," Pauline stated. 

Fox News is yet to issue a statement on the same.

File photo of Emily Compagno Fox News Presenter  FILE Source: Kenyans.co.ke