Kenyans have expressed outrage and deep unease after a disturbing video circulated widely online showing an intoxicated woman being violated at an entertainment joint as she was being filmed.
The clip, which has spread rapidly across social media platforms, shows a young woman who appears visibly intoxicated and unable to meaningfully resist as a man in her company lifts her short dress and records her nudity on his phone.
The footage has ignited a fierce conversation, not only about the assault itself but also about the troubling reactions it provoked online.
While many Kenyans condemned the actions of the man involved, a significant number of social media users turned their anger towards the woman, questioning her sobriety, her clothing and why she was allegedly not wearing underwear.
On Facebook, Amakove Wala described the incident as deeply disturbing and reflective of how sexual violence has increasingly been normalised in the digital age.
“I am deeply disturbed by a video currently circulating online showing a Kenyan man, visiting from the US, lifting the dress of an intoxicated young woman in a bar and recording her nudity, her vagina and buttocks despite her feeble resistance,” Wala wrote in a Facebook post that has since been widely shared.
Wala said what shocked her nearly as much as the incident itself was the public reaction that followed.
“So many people are blaming the woman: she was drunk, she wasn’t wearing panties, she brought this upon herself,” she wrote. “This is exactly how we have normalised Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. This is how we prove, again and again, that we do not understand consent.”
She emphasised that intoxication does not equate to consent, nor does a person’s choice of clothing.
“Being intoxicated is not consent. What someone is wearing, or not wearing, is not consent. Recording and sharing someone’s nudity without consent is a crime,” Wala said.
Caroline Alango wrote, "This is despicable! And that's a criminal who deserves to serve time behind bars. Thanks for tagging the US Embassy."
Debra Ajwang noted, "This is very serious. I am disgusted to say the least. More so with those blaming the victim. Anyone who knows the young lady or can reach her should advise her to get a lawyer immediately or get in touch with FIDA-Kenya for legal assistance. #EndGBV."
Karanu Joseph posted, "Has that video been shared with the DPP's office? That sounds like a crime that is actionable by law. I don't believe the young lady needs a lawyer at present; she's the victim of the crime. Once the criminal aspect is dealt with, she can then pursue a civil suit for monetary compensation."
Beatrice Kirathe opined, "May the victim get justice. I look forward to the day when abusers shall be shamed and not their victims."
In 2025, a video of Purity Kendi, a woman from Meru, went viral after it was leaked.
Cyber-harassment experts said Purity’s story mirrors a growing pattern in Kenya, sextortion, a form of digital blackmail where victims are coerced into sharing intimate content and later threatened or exposed.
Jane Wangari, a criminal lawyer, noted that according to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018), sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence. Yet, enforcement remains slow, and victims like Mary often face not just legal hurdles but deep emotional wounds.
She said behind every leaked image is a real person, a parent, a daughter, a colleague, carrying shame that is not theirs.
“Victims are often manipulated through affection and isolation, and the shame that follows can be crippling, especially for women who fear community judgment more than the law.”
For many victims, she explains, help comes too late, or not at all. Some delete their social accounts; others disappear into silence, although the pain lingers, and so do the questions.