A lobby group from Kiambu County has asked voters to reject aspirants who undermine women or disrespect them.
Referring to an incident in which a woman was harassed by boda boda riders in Nairobi, members of the Kiambu Young Ladies Association (KYLA) group said that the incident was the tip of the iceberg and many such incidents are expected in the height of the campaigns ahead of August 9 elections.
The lobby said it was astounding to watch leaders politicizing the issue, bearing in mind the physical and mental torture that had caused the victim and termed as unfortunate a statement by Deputy President William Ruto who told Boda Boda operators to go for their bikes seized by police at various stations following the Forest Road incident a fortnight ago
Speaking in Limuru, the lobby members said it was saddening that the DP chose to play politics with such a grave matter and asked aspirants for various seats to respect women.
“We appeal to the government to act decisively against those who attack, demean or disrespect women purely on a gender basis. More so, we are asking voters to reject those seeking elective positions yet they have no regard for women’s rights,” Sylvaine Mwihaki, one of the group’s leaders, said.
Mwihaki said many women suffer in silence mostly as a result of cultural or traditional biases and asked female leaders to come out strongly to defend the rights of their own.
Her colleague, Lydia Njeri, said it is time for the voice of women to be heard and felt in cases where their rights are downtrodden.
“Women leaders should come out strongly and fight for our rights. Don’t sit back since our voices count,” Njeri said and added that the laws governing women’s rights should be adhered to strictly to eliminate biases.
Another member of the group, Nana Mwongeli, said politicians should avoid making utterances that please certain groups to win their support and instead guard women against antagonizing members of the society.
The lobbyists urged the Inspector General of Police to fast track the investigations and together with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) act fast and reign in all those involved in the Forest Road attack which they said left many women feeling vulnerable and insecure.
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