The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
From Left: Martha Wambui and her sister, Regina Nyambura the woman who was stripped naked in Kayole. PHOTO: PKEMOI NG'ENOH
They are now stripping and groping decently dressed women. These men no longer target only women dressed in miniskirts, but also those they deem ‘hard’ to get.
The women are often attacked after ignoring catcalls and pick-up lines from the idle men.
This week, a horrifying video clip of a woman being abused by men in a Githurai-bound matatu surfaced online and caused outrage among Kenyans.
Touts cornered the woman, lifted her dress, parted her legs and touched her private parts as one of them filmed the heinous act.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) now wants permission from the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute men stripping women in public.
LSK Chairman Eric Mutua says the ongoing brutality against women must be brought to an end and that the uploading of video clips of the victims on Facebook and Twitter should be regulated.
“These kinds of actions are not only illegal, but immoral and should never be tolerated or condoned,” he said.
The outrage has spurred police into action with a special Anti-Stripping Squad based in Nairobi being formed. Comprising of more than a dozen officers, its job is to hunt down and arrest the perverts. By the time of going to press, one culprit had been arrested.
“We will treat their information with confidentiality. I appeal to them to come to my office so that we can take action against the men who stripped and assaulted them,” promised Nairobi head of CID, Nicholas Kamwende.
The top sleuth might be interested in the tribulations of Ruth Nyambura, 21, who was left for the dead in Kayole. A boda boda rider well-known to Nyambura allegedly grabbed her by the hair for refusing to have sex with him.
The boda boda man even refused to pay for the eggs he had taken from Nyambura, who sells boiled eggs for a living.
Nyambura says that a group of men, at the behest of the boda boda operator, soon descended on her, tearing her skirt, panties and bra and exposing her nudity.
“The boda boda rider was the first to lift my skirt, which was not short. He tore my panties and inserted his fingers in my ‘thing’. Others joined in assaulting me before I passed out,” said Nyambura.
Nyambura says the she was humiliated and assaulted because she demanded to be paid Sh60 for two eggs she had sold to the boda boda man, who only paid her Sh10 and insisted on having sex with her before he could clear the balance.
Martha, Nyambura’s sister, was also stripped and roughed up (although she was in trousers) before officer’s from the nearby Kayole Police Station arrived at the scene and rushed her unconscious sister to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
A CT scan and medical records from the hospital reveal that Nyambura suffered serious injuries on her ribs, as well as a swollen head, neck, back and legs as a result of kicks and blows.
“I bled a lot from my private parts which has resulted in pain when passing urine,” said Nyambura. The assault on the two sisters is booked under OB48/19/11/14 and OB 17/19/11/14 at Kayole Police Station.
The sisters claim they lost more than Sh5,000, their mobiles phones and over 100 boiled eggs on the fateful day.
They have sworn never to forgive or forget those who stripped and assaulted them and hope that justice will prevail.
In a show of solidarity with the women, The Nairobian calls on all women to post a selfie wearing whatever they choose using #MyDressMyChoice hashtag and post the pictures on our @NairobianToday Twitter timeline.
