MPs want police to arrest tout who beat up female passenger
Nairobi
By
Edwin Nyarangi
| Dec 05, 2023
Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (Kewopa) has called on the Inspector General of Police to arrest a tout who beat up a female passenger along Thika Road.
The female Members of Parliament who addressed Journalists at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, today condemned the incident involving the Bybuss Trans Sacco tout who roughed up the lady after failing to drop her at the designated stage leading to a disagreement.
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda said the transport sector is notorious for perpetrating gender-based violence (GBV) which includes physical violence, sexual harassment and verbal abuse that affects the dignity and well-being of women and girls.
"Every person in Kenya has a right to be treated with respect and dignity, it is unacceptable for any service provider anywhere to engage in criminal acts against other persons even where there are disagreements, we are calling for zero tolerance for any form of abuse," said Mutinda.
Nominated Senator Veronica Maina called on relevant authorities to ensure compliance with the regulations on operations of the matatu Saccos which include protection against criminal acts including GBV in the codes of conduct of staff operating public service vehicles.
Maina expressed disappointment that the transport sector has not come out to condemn the incident that was captured on camera on Wednesday last week at a time when the country is marking 16 days of activism against GBV.
She called on Kenyans not to entertain such acts on social media platforms but report them to relevant authorities.
Nominated Senator Miraj Abdullahi called on the Matatu Owners Association and the Bybuss Trans Sacco to address the incident including publishing a formal apology to the affected female passenger and the public, and to hold the tout accountable for his actions through dismissal.
"The company must implement comprehensive sensitivity training programs for its employees to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future, Kewopa wishes to call upon all Public Service Vehicle operators to recognize that disagreements should never be an excuse for violation of the rights of passengers," said Abdullahi.
Maragua MP Mary Wamaua said that it is the responsibility of service providers to ensure that all individuals are treated with respect and compassion noting that everyone has an equal right to public services including public transport vehicles.
The MPs committed to advocating for zero tolerance to violence against girls and women and asked the public to be vigilant and call out rogue individuals who do not respect human rights.