Who will tell these ignorant bullies that in Kenya, we have freedom of choice?
Women activists demonstrate on November 17, 2014 over the stripping incidents. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |
What you need to know:
- The argument that has been advanced by one side of the debate is that she was indecently dressed and, therefore, had it coming to her.
- I am infuriated by the Kenya Police’s response. “File a report and we shall investigate,” they were reported to have said.
- First, that whatever our beliefs, every person must be accorded the freedom to hold their own. Our values cannot be forced on other people.
These past couple of weeks fierce debate has gripped the nation — at least in the mainstream and social media — following a disgraceful and thoroughly shame-inducing incident in Nairobi’s city centre, where hooligans descended on a hapless woman and stripped her of her clothes.
The argument that has been advanced by one side of the debate is that she was indecently dressed and, therefore, had it coming to her.
Building on this argument follows sanctimonious rhetoric that we must teach our girls to dress decently and teach them “values” so that such heinous acts do not happen to them.
They go further to wonder whether this young woman would have been stripped naked had she been “better” dressed.
Tragically, this argument has been made by some influential players in society.
Along with another section of Kenyans, I am outraged. First, at the men who surrounded that woman to mete out their “moral fashion (of) mob justice”.
One wishes each and everyone of them the curses of their ancestors and hopes that karma, such as it is, is swift in its return.
But this helpless reaction at a faceless mob should not be construed to mean that no one can and should be held accountable. The hooligans were touts and other workers under the auspices of the Embassava Sacco matatus.
As such, in the same way that Gor Mahia hooligans have caused their football club to be held accountable, so too should Embassava Sacco’s hooligans.
UTTER INCOMPETENCE
As a man, I am ashamed. As a Kenyan man, I am angry — so angry that the only language I find appropriate to express myself cannot pass the editor’s veto.
I am infuriated by the Kenya Police’s response. “File a report and we shall investigate,” they were reported to have said. What utter incompetence! How much more hands-off can a police service get?
If a mob ran down Kimathi Street and broke the windows of every shop and looted them, would the police remain at their station and wait for a report to be filed before they act?
Is there a set of guidelines that they have that informs them only to act to save property and not one helpless, terrified woman?
The Inspector-General should act immediately to secure all terminuses and ensure that all people are safe from any harm — and officers and stations in the areas where such heinous mob acts occur must be held accountable.
Most of all, I am angry and enraged by the blasé way in which a section of Kenyans has responded to this incident.
Who gives us the right — even the privilege — to pass judgment on anyone else’s choice of dress? Where were you consecrated to pronounce on what mode of dress constitutes “good” values?
What part of the Kenyan Constitution, the Bible, the Koran, or any other holy book assigned you the right to dictate what people should wear?
MUST BE CATEGORICAL
We are at a point of our lives as a nation where we must be categorical with ourselves on a number of principles.
First, that whatever our beliefs, every person must be accorded the freedom to hold their own. Our values cannot be forced on other people.
Secondly, we must be clear that we do not have any right to harass another person for any reason — certainly not because we are not happy with how they dress.
I too have my preferences relating to fashion. I am not above looking at someone’s dressing and thinking, “gosh, that is an ugly colour” or “that young man should pull up his pants”.
My rights in this context end at shaking my head in chagrin, after which I must accept and move on.
Kenya is a democratic country. We must revisit daily what that means.
It means that all Kenyans have a right to choose — their lifestyle, their livelihood, their political and social affiliations and, yes, what they wear.
VALUES ARE NOT UNIFORM
We can attempt to influence these issues in the usual acceptable democratic means — by talking or even preaching.
Ultimately, the choice lies with that person. In a democratic country, values are not uniform and they are not prescribed.
It follows that if everyone has a right to choose, then everyone else must respect and accept that choice and focus on what is important.
We must climb down from our high horses and live our values as best we know how.
Hopefully then, we can be examples for others to emulate.
Al Kags is the Group CEO of The Goode Group and Founder, The Open Institute. ([email protected])
