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Stripping 4 Freedom #mydressmychoice

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strip;mydressmychoice;women;protest

“Why can’t men who sag their pants or those who wear tight pants be stripped too?” Nyota Ndogo, the rather vocal and award-winning Mombasa-based singer challenged.

“If it is indecent to wear a skirt, then it is equally immoral for a man to walk with their trousers half down,” she argued, adding her voice to the national debate that has been on everyone’s lips since a young woman in Nairobi was stripped by a group of men claiming she was dressed indecently. A similar incident had taken place in Mombasa a week earlier.

The rather perturbed Watu na Viatu singer wondered why artistes had not raised their voices on the matter.

“I think us artistes are the most affected lot as we are the ones who dress like that when we perform. I am totally disappointed that local singers remained silent on a national debate that would touch on their careers,” she said.

That Monday morning, hundreds took to the streets of Nairobi to demonstrate against the act after the video capturing the incident went viral.These are the issues which prompted the online trending topic #MyDressMyChoice that saw both ladies and men come out in support of the victims, and against the perpetrators who had taken part in the stripping.

The Monday demos were organised by members of the online community who came out and mobilised themselves to hold peaceful demonstrations.

Many ladies who had contributed to the trending topic, including members of Hashtag254, showed up looking dashing in short skirts and dresses to push their freedom agenda home.

With Uhuru Park as the flag off point, the demonstrators went all round town, walking along Kenyatta Avenue, Kimathi Street and Moi Avenue, before going to Accra Road where all the drama had begun.

“Every woman has the right to choose what they wear!” Nairobi business lady and politician Esther Passaris said as the demonstration proceeded to Vigilance house where an opposing group of men confronted the ladies.

“Vaa nguo! Vaa nguo (put on clothes)!” they shouted at the ladies, who for a moment were thrown off, with some even opting out of the drama. The rest went all the way to the Supreme Court to seek audience with Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

At the gates, men who had also gathered shouted and cursed the ladies, warning them to dress up, or go home.

Boniface Mwangi the activist (in a dress) and Blacqy, the controversial dancehall singer (in a skirt), however, got the most backlash as the men jeered at them and even accused them of being gay for wearing women’s clothing. “Mnatuaibisha!” the men jeered at the two who were surrounded by women.

Aisha Wanjiku who was one of the women standing next to Blaqqy and Boniface jeered back in protest saying: “It’s your choice! You should start your demonstrations away from here!”

The men almost lynched her.

Fortunately the ladies were called into the law courts for a meeting with the Chief Justice during which he addressed and consoled them.

“Such acts are unacceptable and should be stopped because our women need to feel safe in their own homes,” he affirmed.

He further condemned the sharing of these videos saying; “People should not share those videos, as it further ‘strips’ the ladies of their dignity!”

 

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