On Saturday, four persons were injured after being attacked while celebrating International Women’s Day in Athi River, Machakos County.
The victims, including ladies, men, youth, and persons with disabilities, were injured after being attacked by suspected goons near Yeyani Resort in Mavoko, Athi River sub-county.
The gang also attacked a disabled police officer. The vision-handicapped cop fell after being hit by the attackers.
They had just begun a march along the 39 Bridge Quarry Road in the Mavoko subdivision on the outskirts of Athi River Town.
They were holding posters criticizing injustices against women when a group of males armed with machetes, rungus, and stones assaulted them from behind at 9.30 a.m.The attack caused the march commemorating International Women’s Day to stop early.
The alleged criminals fled the area in waiting automobiles. Officers from the Athi River police station eventually arrived and guarded the Yeyan Resort hotel, where those celebrating International Women’s Day sought refuge.
Machakos County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia verified the event, saying it was reported to the Athi River Police Station. Lobolia stated that detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stationed at the Athi River police station initiated an investigation into the event.
“The DCI Athi River is investigating the incident,” Lobolia told the Star on the phone shortly after the incident occurred.It was reported that several of the injured were brought to Shalom Community Hospital for treatment.
“Uknown assailants on boda boda ambushed the participants before the event could commence injuring four individuals. The victims were promptly rushed to Shalom Community hospital for treatment,” a police report read in part.
Police reported that officers were dispatched to the area, but the perpetrators had already left. Some of the human rights activists who were attacked during the incident decried acts of hooliganism against what they described as peaceful protesters and women.
“Just when we started a peaceful procession while at the Yeyani Resort entrance, some goons emerged with machete, rungus, stones and all sorts of crude weapons and started hacking protestors, some hurled stones at us,” Tracy Kadada said.
They spoke to the press shortly after the situation had calmed.Some officers from the Athi River police station arrived at the incident and instructed the women to stop the parade.
“Mimi nilinyang’anywa shamba kwa sababu mimi ni mschana Mtaita, niliambiwa siwezi ridhi shamba. My uncles took our land, my inheritance. End violence on women, we speak for the weak,” Kadada said.
She claimed she was threatened by some of the goons.“Some of the goons said they would hack me to pieces. We are oppressed in our own country,” she said.
Kadada stated that they had gotten police authorization to hold the peaceful procession as they commemorated the day.
Anne Nasimiyu stated that as women, they wanted the government to inform them about their rights in the country.
“Men brandishing machetes to us telling us that they would slash us and hacking people in broad daylight as we watch, are we Kenyans?” she posed.
“We have a constitutional right of association and movement. This is to show us that women have got no rights, widows have been denied their rights to own land, their properties have been taken away from them,” Nasimiyu added.
She claimed the attackers appeared from behind as they approached Mombasa Road.
“We only had placards in our hands. The walk was to raise awareness of women who are suffering including victims of gender-based violence. We came to stand with the women who have been oppressed,” Nasimiyu said.
Sarah Mainge stated that she supports women because they have endured several injustices.“Today is the International Women’s Day, do I not have a right to say, ‘Guys, this is what I’m going through?’ Tumenyang’anywa na wanaume wakachukua mashamba zetu,” Sarah stated. “It was a peaceful walk, I’m a mother of five. Why should I come to cause war on the road?”
