BY GERALD MUTETHIA
Njuri Ncheke supreme council of elders Secretary General Murangiri Kiriinya speaks in Meru town, December 1,2025.
A disturbing incident in Laare, Igembe North Sub-County, has sparked public outrage across Meru County after a video circulated online appearing to show a young woman being sexually assaulted while several men restrained her and urged on the attacker. The assault is believed to have occurred on November 29, deepening concerns about rising gender-based violence during the ongoing 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Local leaders, cultural authorities, and residents have condemned the act in the strongest terms, calling it a stain on the community’s values and a wake-up call for urgent reforms.
Meru Woman Representative Karambu Kailemia expressed profound distress after watching the footage, urging the police and the community to act without hesitation.
“My heart is heavy. This is a shameful reflection of what we are becoming. We cannot stand by as such evils persist,” she said, calling for the arrest of both the primary attacker and the men seen restraining the survivor or recording the ordeal.
Kailemia further appealed to authorities to protect witnesses and ensure accountability, emphasizing that silence only fuels impunity. She encouraged the public to talk openly about gender-based violence to help address the rising incidents across the region.
Imenti South MCA Evans Mawira, from Mitunguu Ward, also denounced the incident, admitting he struggled to watch the clip.
“I could not watch past the third second,” he said, noting that county GBV officials had not yet identified the survivor or received a formal complaint.
Mawira urged anyone with credible information to come forward, promising a KSh10,000 reward for tips that will help identify those involved.
Njuri Ncheke Elders Issue Ultimatum
The Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Elders has joined the growing chorus demanding justice, describing the assault as an affront to Meru customs. Secretary General Murangiri Kiriinya strongly condemned the act.
“This is an insult to our culture. We want thorough forensic investigations and immediate action,” he said.
Kiriinya warned that if the suspects fail to surrender within seven days, the elders will invoke the Kithiiri curse, a powerful traditional penalty reserved for the gravest offences.
He also pointed to other troubling incidents reported recently in the region including the alleged forced re-circumcision of a young man in Kiegoi and a reported sodomy case in Athiru saying they reflect deeper security gaps that must be addressed urgently.
The series of violent incidents has triggered widespread demands for heightened security presence, faster investigations, and stronger collaboration between community leaders and law enforcement.
Leaders have urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to move swiftly and decisively, warning that slow action risks undermining public trust and emboldening perpetrators.
As outrage grows, residents hope the renewed focus on justice and cultural accountability will mark a turning point in the fight against gender-based violence in Meru and across the country.
Former Nairobi governor , Mike Mbuvi Sonko has offered ksh 300,000 cash reward to anyone who will help in apprehending the perpetrators .
