The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services has warned the public against circulating videos and images that show a woman in a vulnerable situation at an entertainment joint in Nairobi.
In a statement on her official X account on Sunday, January 18, CS Hanna Wendot Cheptumo warned that disseminating such material online violates the dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy of an individual, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
According to the CS, the circulation and commentary of such material would lead to further psychological harm to the affected individual.
"I have taken note of a disturbing video circulating in the public domain involving the recording and dissemination of images of a woman in a vulnerable condition within a Nairobi entertainment establishment," the CS said.
"The Government remains fully committed to the protection of human dignity and to the advancement of a society founded on respect, accountability and the rule of law, both offline and online," She added.
The CS has assured that the ministry is engaging with the relevant security agencies to ensure that the matter is reviewed and the necessary action is taken against those responsible for taking and posting the video on social media.
The video shows the woman in the company of another man, both appearing to be intoxicated at night in the entertainment joint. In the footage, the man appeared to be touching the woman inappropriately.
The woman was heard pleading with the man to stop, but he ignored her and continued to take advantage of her intoxicated state.
He later posted a video of the whole incident online, which triggered widespread criticism online, with many Kenyans condemning the act as a form of gender-based violence.
Castigating the incident, Nairobi County Chief Officer in charge of the Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Department, Geoffrey Mosiria, confirmed that two individuals who were linked to the incident have been apprehended, and the main suspect, who took the video, is still at large.
According to Mosiria, the video, which he labelled as unacceptable and constitutes cyberbullying and abuse, was illegal and violated the woman’s dignity.
"To those insulting me and saying that Mosiria is defending the lady instead of the boy child, understand this clearly: what the boy did was illegal, and no girl deserves to be treated that way. Two wrongs do not make a right," Mosiria said.
"We all have children, and it is painful to witness such situations. Imagine going online as a parent, brother, or sister and finding your own sister trending illegally, her dignity stripped away for the whole world to see," he added.
The CS stressed the need for enhanced rules and regulations to ensure that photos and videos taken in such entertainment joints, where individuals are likely to be vulnerable, comply with ethical and legal standards.
