By Shadrack Nyakoe
Leaders and organizations have strongly condemned the recent attack on nominated MCA Joyce Muthoni Mwangi, who also serves as the deputy minority whip in the Nairobi County Assembly.
The incident, which occurred on September 9, 2024, in Jada A, Komarock Ward, involved Muthoni being physically assaulted by elected Komarock Ward MCA, Chris Wanjohi, also known as Mtumishi, during an inspection of a local water project.
This is not the first time Muthoni has been assaulted by Wanjohi, raising serious concerns about the safety of women in leadership roles. Muthoni had previously overseen the installation of floodlights at the same location as part of a community development initiative, making the attack particularly troubling.
Community leaders are now calling for immediate legal action against Wanjohi, demanding a full investigation and accountability.
They have expressed disappointment over the lack of protection for Muthoni and called for better enforcement of laws designed to safeguard women from violence.
In a joint statement, leaders emphasized that gender-based violence (GBV) is a systemic issue, not just a personal attack, and urged for stronger legal frameworks to protect women.
They called for greater funding for support services, public awareness campaigns, and counseling and security measures for Muthoni to ensure her safety in the future.
The statement also stressed that the repeated assaults on Muthoni send a chilling message to society about the dangers faced by women in leadership positions.
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for all victims of GBV, pushing for justice, and working to dismantle the systems that allow such violence to persist.
They declared that “justice for Hon. Joyce Muthoni is justice for all women.”
“Gender-based violence is not just a personal attack; it is a systemic issue that continues to plague our society. Justice for Joyce is justice for all women,” they stated during the joint press conference on Monday 16, September 2024.