Arrest gangs, Fida tells police

Story by CAROLINE WAFULA
Publication Date: 2/8/2008

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (Kenya) has asked the police to crack down on gangs reported to be harassing and stripping women wearing trousers and mini-skirts in some parts of the country.

Fida says the gangs should let women wear what they want, and has asked the Government to ensure that no woman is harassed because of what she puts on.

This follows several incidents in parts of Naivasha, Limuru, Thika and Kiambu towns where criminal groups are said to be forcing women wearing trousers and mini-skirts to either cover themselves with lessos or go back to their homes “to dress decently.”
The criminals, suspected to be members of the outlawed Mungiki sect, claim it is immoral and “not African” for women to wear trousers and mini-skirts.
New form of violence

Fida warned that coming hot on the heels of the post-poll clashes, the incidents could spiral into a new form of post-election violence targeting women.
The organisation’s chairperson, Ms Violet Awori, said the harassment was not only unlawful but also barbaric and had no place in modern society.

“Fida Kenya wishes to remind the perpetrators of these attacks on women that there is no law against the wearing of trousers by women,” she said.
She cited Section 238 (1) of the Penal Code which provides that any person who intimidates or molests another is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.

In a statement, the organisation called on the police to intensify security in Naivasha and other parts of the country affected by the post-election violence to ensure the protection of women.

Bring to book

It demanded urgent investigations into the matter and urged the police to bring the perpetrators to book .

In some of the affected areas, police are reported to be complaining that they lack adequate manpower to handle the emerging cases.

Naivasha district commissioner Katee Mwanza and his Kiambu counterpart Peter Leley have warned that those behind the incidents would face the full force of the law.


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