Bottom power: Farouk's remarks about Sabina's body, her nod stir debate

Beneath the chants and declarations in campaign rallies lies the silent sexism threat against women. Ironically though, women politicians have also been accused of encouraging this. Kenya being a highly patriarchal society, women's role in nation building is not given the recognition it deserves. They face stereotyping, called names, harassed and even sexually abused. It, therefore, was no surprise when a video with sexual connotations surfaced online. In the clip that went viral, the protagonists are Farouk Kibet, who is the personal assistant to President William Ruto, and nominated Senator Sabina Chege. In the video, Farouk is heard saying: Huyu mama ako sawa ama hayuko sawa? Hata vile alivyo? Akipinduka hivi mnafurahi? Siku zote? Huyo mama akiwa kwa kitanda si unalala kabisa eh? Utaamka kesho ingine sio, atosha hatoshi? Loosely translated in English, Farouk meant Sabina is blessed with a sexy body, that any man would want be with in bed. Many opine that, in Farouk's eyes, Sabina is a sex object, a form of discrimination women in Kenya continue to face, be it in politics, leadership roles, sports or corporate world among other spheres. The crowd roared. Sabina smiled, waved, and gave no rebuttal. Many criticised her silence. But insiders say the stakes were too high: Any display of "disrespect" to the male political kingpin would be framed as arrogance. But having been in politics for long, Sabina opted to play to script, exciting the crowd with a sexist response. "Tutashikilia William Samoei Ruto? Na nyinyi wamama mnajua yule mwanamme mmoja sio yule anaenda one round. Si anaenda round, round ya pili na ya tatu? Sasa mnataka kushukisha William Ruto one round? Si aende two round? Wangapi wanasema ni two term? Si ni two term (Will we support William Ruto? And you women know well that a real man is the one who does not go one round; he goes two rounds, and even a third one. So why do you want to give William Ruto one round? How many of you are of two terms? Let's agree he deserves two terms," Senator Sabina said. Earlier, Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir Toto uttered almost similar words in a political event, eliciting intense debate about sexism and politics, with the place of women coming under sharp scrutiny. "Na hao watu kazi yao ni kuongea ongea tu hapo wakisema sijui Ruto must go, sijui wantam, tumesema mwanamme kamili lazima aende round ngapi? (The opposition is obsessed with 'Ruto must go', 'one term,' but how many rounds should a real man go?), charged Toto. The remarks by the two female politicians drew both criticism and applause, depending on which political side one seats. "Total disgrace to the women in leadership. Moral decadence! I thought it was to be a Church of God. Now I know! Kenya needs a Renaissance!" responded Saboti MP Caleb Amisi. Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba jumped on the wagon, sharing her two cents on the matter. "For those who cared to listen...this is the person you must go through to get an appointment with the President. For women, it is a give and take. . .ama uzame," she posted in response to Farouk's remarks. However, Kenyans on X, known for not taking hostages (online), did not spare her either. "Weren't you the one whose cheeks were being pinched at a press conference and you didn't complain? We even saw you smile back. What was that about by the way?" One netizen @MadgeRulf answered the embattled politician. Former nominated senator Millicent Omanga has truly been through the fire when it comes to public scrutiny, especially over her bold and energetic dance moves on the political stage. During the heated 2022 elections, Omanga regularly lit up UDA rallies by dancing and hyping up the crowds, a move that thrilled supporters but drew sharp criticism online. The digital backlash became so intense that she addressed it head-on in an interview with media personality Massawe Japanni. "I love dancing, I honestly don't see any problem," Omanga said unapologetically. "Even my mum loves to dance. My fans know it's just who I am. God created me this way, and His work is perfect. We need to move past the idea that women should always be restrained. There is nothing wrong with letting loose. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Itabidi wazoee!" She did not stop there. Responding to accusations that she is used as a mere "flower girl" by her political party meant to attract male followers, Omanga fired back with her trademark confidence. "Those comments mostly come from my political rivals," she said. "They will say anything to demean or intimidate me. But let's be clear: my party takes me seriously, just like everyone else does. Millie Odhiambo dances too, but no one questions her. If I yawned, someone would probably complain. At the end of the day, you can never please your critics, so why bother trying?" In a country where women still battle for equal political space, the treatment of female leaders during campaigns often reflects deeper societal attitudes about gender, power, and worth. From being asked to "turn around" on live television to male politicians making lewd jokes at rallies with women standing beside them, Kenya's political theatre often slips into a vulgar strip show. But here is the twist: some of the women caught in these moments laugh along. Others hurl back equally sexist jabs, targeting their female rivals or objectifying themselves for applause. Youth leader Jennifer Waruinge is calling for a bold shift in how society views women in leadership. And she is not mincing words. "It is time we break free from the shame that comes with leading with dignity," she says. "This outdated culture that claps for misogyny needs to end. We must stop cheering on sexism and start standing up for our future." Jennifer, a fearless voice who frequently engages with top political figures, warns that normalising sexist abuse in politics is more than just harmful, it is a dangerous form of societal gaslighting. "When we expect women in leadership to tolerate humiliation or harassment, we are not just being unfair, we are actively discouraging the next generation of female leaders. Leadership should be about service, not survival. But the current environment often feels like a battlefield," she says. She is, especially, concerned by the silence that follows public attacks on women, even from fellow female leaders. "The silence hurts. Whether it is fear, political survival, or self-preservation, it still feeds the very system that breaks us. No one signs up for public service to be disrespected because of their gender," says Jennifer. Despite constitutional strides like the two-thirds gender rule and stronger laws against gender-based violence, Kenya's political landscape remains deeply hostile to women, says Brigid Siantei, a gender and governance expert. "Kenyan politics remains patriarchal. Public rallies and political discourse are still marred by sexism, bullying, especially online and the objectification of women," Siantei says, pointing to Sabina's incident as a disturbing trend. According to Siantei, how female politicians are often targeted with personal attacks, sexualised comments, and dismissive behaviour are all tactics meant to undermine their credibility and discourage their participation. "This is gender-based violence in verbal form. When women are asked to show body parts or are mocked for their appearance or marital status, it shows how deeply misogyny is embedded in our political culture," she emphasizes. Siantei is strongly opposed to the notion that women entering into political duels should expect such treatment. "That mindset is harmful. It shifts the blame onto women instead of demanding safer, more respectful spaces. Politics should be about ideas and service, not enduring harassment," she notes. So why is there often silence, even among fellow female leaders, when sexist remarks are made? Siantei believes it is because of fear and survival that women elect not to speak out, just to avoid further embarrassment. The consequences, she warns, are long-term. Public humiliation discourages young women from pursuing leadership. "It sends a clear message: politics is unsafe for women. It stifles ambition and leads to underrepresentation. We can't claim to pursue inclusive democracy while allowing this to continue," says Siantei. As the country looks ahead to the 2027 General Election, Siantei's message is clear: the political playing field must be made safe and respectful for women, or the nation's democratic progress will remain incomplete. Gloria Adhiambo, a communications specialist and champion of women empowerment, says the idea that women who join politics should expect this kind of treatment is deeply worrying and dangerous to the female gender. It normalizes abuse instead of challenging it. According to Adhiambo, no one male or female should expect to be degraded simply because they choose public service. The thinking is rooted in a patriarchal system that seek to keep women in their place by punishing them the moment they dare to speak, lead, or take up space. "When a female leader like Sabina Chege is publicly humiliated, and the room either laughs, stays silent, or awkwardly shifts, it reveals a chilling truth: That many people still believe a woman's dignity is negotiable. The silence from fellow female leaders? It is complex. Sometimes, it is the fear of being the next target. Other times its survival play along, don't rock the boat. But there is also complicity. We must be honest: some have learnt to navigate male-dominated spaces by aligning with the power structures, even at the expense of their sisters," she states. Adhiambo says what is heartbreaking is the message this sends to the next generation of women. "Imagine a brilliant young woman watching that clip, seeing the jeers, the ridicule, the silence. What she sees is not just Sabina being humiliated, she sees the cost of courage. And for many of us, that cost is too high," she says. Adhiambo further says that these attacks are not just personal, they are political weapons designed to discourage and dissuade women from entering the ring. "As a woman in communications and advocacy, I challenge the media, fellow leaders, and citizens to call out this behaviour boldly. We cannot normalize this. We must disrupt it for Sabina, for ourselves, and for the young women watching," says Adhiambo.

Bottom power: Farouk's remarks about Sabina's body, her nod stir debate

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