Like an avalanche that has slowly but steadily grown to a humongous size, the Kenyan society seems to be at an almost breaking point. I might be a bit pessimistic but recent events point at a disaster waiting to happen. Social injustice has been the order of the day since time immemorial but recent occurrences especially violence against women should serve as a wake-up call.
I will not dwell on the specific cases that have truly and well been documented but rather a diagnosis of what is ailing us. This is just an opinion and I might be wrong but I’ll let my voice be heard.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. So said Mahatma Gandhi. What is the one thing that you and I can change to stop the rot in our lives, our society and our nation? As a Christian, I’m reminded by Jesus that I need not point out the speck in the eye of another before removing the log in mine. I see the issue at hand as being three-faceted; spiritual, social and economic.
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n the Bible book of Isaiah 6:5, it states “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” In the previous chapter of the book, Prophet Isaiah had been pronouncing words of woe to the corrupt society in which he lived. The King now had died and when the Prophet went into the temple, he saw a vision. It was that of God’s throne in a very vivid manner until Isaiah no longer pronounced woes on others but did so on himself. In the holiness of the Most High, he saw his sin and Isaiah declared ruin upon himself. It reminds me of the evil times we live in and the general rebellion we have communally established against God and his ways. Ways that are just and pure. What have we become?
n the Bible book of Isaiah 6:5, it states “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” In the previous chapter of the book, Prophet Isaiah had been pronouncing words of woe to the corrupt society in which he lived. The King now had died and when the Prophet went into the temple, he saw a vision. It was that of God’s throne in a very vivid manner until Isaiah no longer pronounced woes on others but did so on himself. In the holiness of the Most High, he saw his sin and Isaiah declared ruin upon himself. It reminds me of the evil times we live in and the general rebellion we have communally established against God and his ways. Ways that are just and pure. What have we become?
How many ladies marvel at being referred to as ‘bi***es’ by men and only complain after being treated like female dogs? What sin are we hiding in ourselves that is now getting manifest through the sickening occurrences? You might argue that women are dressing provocatively and thus ‘asking for it’. I beg to differ. I once spent three weeks in Lokichoggio where women walk 
topless and no one throws snide remarks their way nor strips them off the covering of the nether regions. We seem to suffer from a collective problem engraved in our mind that is now being manifest in deeds.
topless and no one throws snide remarks their way nor strips them off the covering of the nether regions. We seem to suffer from a collective problem engraved in our mind that is now being manifest in deeds.
Of course the moral decay around us has a socio-economic aspect to it. Listening to Judge Ian Mbugua on Sunday as he was being hosted on the Churchill Show, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement that real men are dwindling in numbers at an alarming rate. Instead, we have an ever-increasing number of inward weaklings masquerading as men. It’s a sad state, one that no one in particular is to blame but that needs urgent addressing. Kudos to this platform that is speaking out for men to arise. The elevation and massive attention given to the ‘girl child’, as many have pointed out led to years of neglect to their male counterparts. And like a receding wave, we now face a tsunami.
Something has to change. I choose to change. I choose to play my part as a man. Every woman out there has a father, a son, a brother, a spouse, a male friend or colleague. We have to stand for them. Not that they are weak but because it is our mandate. The government won’t do that for us since there’s even a cop who was arrested for stripping a lady. But fair enough that even the President just addressed this issue by launching the 16 Days of Activism. Religious institutions would be a safe haven but we know that’s not always the case.
Some men (and women) are of the opinion that indecency is the cause of all the tribulation we find ourselves facing. The same men who glorify scantily dressed women as ‘socialites’, feast eyes on raunchy music videos and ears on the same and have accelerated the porn penetration of Kenya to among the highest in the world. We could argue all day concerning moral standards and it is valid but action matters more. Statistics over a long time remind us of the grim reality we face. A woman in Kenya is abused sexually every thirty minutes. 
The chilling statistics, however, do not tell the full story of the emotional devastation of individual rape victims. From toddlers to grannies, in their homes, open places and now even matatus. Something has got to give. I won’t stay silent. Social media campaigns won’t do much either. It’s gonna be a long journey of restoration. A restoration of sanity in society. A journey I am willing to take. Will you join me?
The chilling statistics, however, do not tell the full story of the emotional devastation of individual rape victims. From toddlers to grannies, in their homes, open places and now even matatus. Something has got to give. I won’t stay silent. Social media campaigns won’t do much either. It’s gonna be a long journey of restoration. A restoration of sanity in society. A journey I am willing to take. Will you join me?
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