This past week has seen two women in Nairobi, Kenya, being stripped naked because of their attire. Not only is this revolting but it is infuriating and completely unacceptable. And it begs the question, WHY? Why must we behave like primitive beings? Why do we not respect our fellow sisters? These two women are someone’s child, someone’s sister, someone’s colleague, someone’s mother and maybe even someone’s wife. Have you ever wondered why men are not stripped bare when they sag? Why are they not given the same treatment? Why do we not consider men and women equal?
Being not only a woman but a Kenyan living in Nairobi, I myself empathize with these women. I myself fear going to the CBD (Central Business District) wearing even a sleeveless top because of these beasts who take it upon themselves to “teach women manners”. If you are offended by what someone is dressed in then look away. No one is holding your head forcing you to look. Those who think that these women deserved it, shame on you. Imagine if that was your sister being stripped bare in the middle of the street.
We must respect our women. Without women where would our society be? Those two women, as well as the many others who have been unjustly treated, will be scarred for the rest of their lives just because some men decided that it was their duty to teach them how to dress. The truth of the matter is that these men were not out to teach these women a lesson, they were out to satisfy their lust.
This week I am not proud to call myself a Kenyan. I am ashamed of how these men in our country can degrade a woman to such low standards. For all the men out there, who would you have been in that crowd? The ones who stripped these women of their dignity or those who looked on without stopping the madness. Or would you have been MAN enough to defend these women?
Waihuini Njoroge.
ALAians Media 