When a disturbing video of a middle-aged woman surfaced online earlier this month, social media erupted in a mix of outrage, mockery, and pity. But behind the clicks, hashtags, and trending threads lies a story of vulnerability, manipulation, and the dark side of Kenya’s digital age.
Through tears and trembling words, the woman, identified as Purity Kendi now at the centre of one of Kenya’s most shocking viral scandals, broke her silence in a heartfelt video, pleading for forgiveness from her children and the public.
“I ask my children to forgive me because they are grown and have seen those things. I ask for forgiveness from all Kenyans. I will never do that again,” she sobbed.
Her story began, she says, during a time of deep financial hardship. A single mother with seven dependents, she was struggling to make ends meet. A younger friend who seemed to live large and comfortable, introduced her to an online platform. That is when she met someone online; a man who claimed to be looking for a wife.
He promised her love, stability, and a future, but with one disturbing condition: she had to “obey him” and follow his rules. To prove his trust, he sent her explicit videos of himself and asked her to reciprocate.
Desperate to pay school fees, she complied. In return, the man sent her Sh20,000, money she now calls “the beginning of my downfall.”
Soon, the supposed suitor’s tone changed. He began demanding more; not affection, but cash. And when she refused, the threats began.
“He would threaten me to randomly send him money and if I didn’t, he said he would expose me. That’s when I knew this person didn’t have good intentions,” she recounted.
Terrified, she changed her phone number and tried to disappear. But years later, her nightmare resurfaced when the videos were leaked online, turning her private pain into a public spectacle.
As the videos went viral, so did the humiliation. The woman says she faced hostility in her Meru hometown, prompting a good Samaritan, identified as Wambui Tabitha, to help her flee for her safety.
“They took me out of Meru. I was almost killed,” she said. “I ask the government to forgive me and to help me because I cannot go back.”
Her plea, raw and desperate, has divided the public. While some Kenyans sympathize, calling for compassion and mental health support, others have condemned her, reigniting debates on morality, digital safety, and victim-blaming.
In today’s hyperconnected world, the line between intimacy and exposure is dangerously thin. What was once private can become public in seconds with devastating consequences.
Revenge porn
Cyber safety advocate Evelyn Kasina, the founder of Eveminet Limited, says the woman’s case reflects a growing crisis of digital exploitation and revenge porn in Kenya.
“Revenge porn typically happens when private content shared in confidence is maliciously posted online after a breakup or disagreement,” Kasina explains. “Sometimes, it involves coercion, hacking, or grooming: leaving victims powerless.”
She says the emotional fallout can be devastating: anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
“The viral nature of online platforms means that once content is shared, it spreads like wildfire. Victims feel trapped, ashamed, and often suicidal,” she adds. Her warning is not unfounded. In a recent article, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, revealed that an estimated 1.2 million people use AI chat platforms each week to express suicidal thoughts; a chilling reminder of how digital harm can spill into mental health crises.
Kasina emphasizes that victims of revenge porn must understand they are not to blame.
“Seek immediate support from a trusted person or counsellor. Report the content; most platforms have tools to remove non-consensual intimate images. Document evidence before deletion for legal action,” she advises.
Victims can also call 116, a toll-free number offering psychosocial and child protection support. Eveminet, in collaboration with major tech companies like Meta and TikTok, continues to run digital wellbeing campaigns that help victims regain dignity and control.
According to Lawyer Essendi Kenneth, Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018) criminalizes the intentional distribution of intimate images without consent.
“Section 27 makes revenge porn a form of cyber harassment. Offenders risk fines of up to Sh7 million, imprisonment for up to four years, or both,” he says. He adds that Article 31 of the Constitution protects every citizen’s right to privacy, including against unnecessary public exposure of private affairs. Victims can also pursue defamation suits if the leaks harm their reputation.
“While freedom of expression is protected under Article 33, it must always be balanced against the rights and dignity of others,” Kenneth notes.
Courts can also issue restraining orders to prevent further sharing or harassment. Depending on the severity, penalties can rise to Sh20 million or imprisonment of up to ten years.
As experts note, shame and stigma often silence victims before the law can protect them. Yet, global tools now exist to offer discreet help.
Platforms like Take It Down developed by the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) allow victims to submit a digital “hash” of their image, enabling social media sites to automatically detect and block reuploads without exposing the actual photo.
Kasina believes Kenya needs to normalize such survivor-centered tools.
“Revenge porn is abuse, not the victim’s fault. We must end victim shaming, promote education, and use tools like Take It Down to restore dignity in the digital age,” she says.
As the woman’s case continues to stir debate, it exposes more than just one person’s humiliation. It highlights a culture still grappling with empathy in the face of scandal.
Her trembling voice lingers in the minds of many who watched her plea:
“I am a mother. I was desperate. Please forgive me.”
Second chances
Days after being turned into an online punching bag, it has emerged that a real estate company dubbed Comfort Homes reached out to the woman with some promises, including being their brand ambassador.
While questions surrounding the gesture continue to arise, the company under the leadership of Hezekiah Kariuki has insisted that he embraced the woman in an attempt to restore her dignity.
“Society has always been quick to judge, especially women. We decided to reach out to her so as to restore her dignity and bring more confidence to her. I also believe in second chances,” Kariuki explained
He added that Kendi was first taken for counselling after restoring her confidence.
“It is true that we approached her on Tuesday, but she was first taken through counselling because what she has gone through is a lot,” said Kariuki
“It is unfortunate that her private stuff leaked online, but people do dirty stuff out there, but they don’t go online,” he added, appealing to the public to give the woman a break.
Additional reporting by Pkemoi Ng’enoh
