The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) and the Federation of Women Lawyers(FIDA) Kenya have strongly castigated the assault of a woman in Nyamira County on Monday, March 24, during a burial ceremony stressing that communities should refrain from retrogressive customs and shift to lawful alternatives.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 25, NGEC Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa said that the incident reflected the deeply rooted gender-based violence disguised in culture.
According to Jaldesa, the act not only contravened the Constitution of Kenya but also international human rights standards.
"The Commission calls on communities to abandon retrogressive customs and seek lawful and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like mediation and arbitration when aggrieved," she stated.
"Harmful cultural practices like this persist due to fear of stigmatization and ostracization. These oppressive traditions blatantly contravene the Constitution and international human rights standards, which mandate gender equality and non-discrimination. No culture or tradition should override an individual's dignity, autonomy, and human rights," she added.
On the other hand, FIDA lawyers, who labeled the incident as 'heinous', stressed the need for a collective effort from law enforcement agencies, community leaders, cultural elders, and all Kenyans to prevent violence against women.
The incident happened in Nyabisimba village in Nyamira County. In a video that made rounds in social media, a group of men were captured dragging the woman, forcing her to pour soil into her late ex-husband’s grave.
The woman had been married to her late ex-husband for over nine years and later separated. After separation, she lost contact with the husband and his family for years.
The woman was then contacted by her mother-in-law, following the death of her ex-husband, and asked her to bring her children to their father's burial on Monday.
During the burial, the woman was ambushed by her in-laws at the gravesite who forced her to throw soil into the grave, which the woman declined.
Due to her failure to perform the ritual, several individuals, mostly men, began attacking her and accusing her of being responsible for her ex-husband's death.
The incident was later reported to the authorities, who, through detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested three individuals who assaulted the woman.
National Police Service (NPS) labeled the incident as regrettable, and lacking both civility and basic human dignity.
“The National Police Service has noted with utmost concern a disturbing video circulating on social media, which shows a woman being physically assaulted at what is believed to be a burial ceremony,” said NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
