Kisumu young men attack women praying. [Photo/ KinyaBoy]
The Kisumu incident in which youths stormed into a peace meeting of women and started beating them over baseless claims that they were buying IDs from the locals must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.The lakeside young men, who acted on a Facebook rumor, assaulted more than 200 women, before robbing them their valuables, such as laptops and money. The women had gathered to pray for peace ahead of the October 17 presidential election. According to Pastor Alice Owuor, the Nyanza Women of Faith were already undertaking their programs when the rowdy youth stormed in.“I was making my presentation when the youth came in. They started interrogating us and beating us on claims that we were buying IDs,” the religious leader said, as quoted by Kenyans.co.ke.“They harassed and threatened to rape a number of us,” she added. Area police commandant Joseph Keitany confirmed the incident, saying the security forces used teargas and bullets to disperse the youths.“The youth started beating women and they stole their laptops and money,” the police boss said.This backward behavior needs to end. Now. How can defenceless women, who are praying for the progress of the country, be subjected to such ill treatment? Who do these young men think they are?Kenya is a country of laws. And no one, even the president, is above that. The young people of Kisumu, who are known to cause chaos during election periods — on instructions from politicians — must know that the long arm of the law finally catches with them, they will be alone. They must stop being used to destabilize the country. The country doesn’t not stop just because we are having elections. If there are any claims of wrongdoing, why not report it to the police?