Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris has condemned a disturbing viral video in which a group of young men is seen harassing girls under the guise of creating content.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 26, she expressed concern over the growing trend of creators using such abusive behaviour to gain views.
Passaris questioned the safety and dignity of girls in such situations, noting the fear and helplessness they must endure.
"I have come across several videos of young men sexually harassing girls in the name of content. It is shocking that such acts are being viewed as entertainment.
"I can not begin to imagine the trauma a girl goes through in such an ordeal, surrounded by boys who, instead of protecting or defending her dignity, stand aside and entertain this diabolical abomination. What then happens if she tries to defend herself?" she said.
Read More
Passaris called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to immediately identify and arrest the suspects captured in the video.
"I am calling on the @DCI_Kenya to apprehend these boys immediately. Let this serve as a warning to anyone who assaults another person, especially under the guise of content creation. Enough is enough," she added.
This comes weeks after Passaris urged authorities to take action against Pastor James Ng'ang'a after a video surfaced online showing him making a shocking confession during a church service.
In the video, which has been widely circulated on social media, Ng’ang’a appears to admit to having been part of an eight-person gang that sexually assaulted a woman years ago.
The remarks, made before his congregation, have sparked public outrage and renewed debate over accountability among religious leaders.
"I have seen a clip circulating on social media allegedly showing Pastor Ng’ang’a confessing that he and eight others raped a woman. It is no laughing matter. We cannot move past such a serious matter without holding space for real accountability," the Woman Rep said.
Passaris further noted the need to authenticate the video but emphasised that, regardless of its origin, such content warrants an official investigation.
"In this era of AI-generated and manipulated videos, I don’t know if the clip is genuine or a deep fake, but one thing remains: it must be investigated. If that video is real, then it is not a sermon; it is a criminal confession. It should have been flagged instantly, and the pastor picked up for questioning by the authorities," she added.
Passaris added that if the confession indeed happened, the pastor should cooperate with law enforcement to ensure justice for the victim.
"As a man of God, if the pastor did make that confession, he should surrender himself to the police, name the eight others involved, and help deliver justice for the survivor.
"I keep wondering where the woman is today? How has her life been since that ordeal? Did she have a rape child? So many unanswered questions-is she dead or alive? Did she know her perpetrators? Did she report the incident?" she posed.
In conclusion, Passaris called on the DCI to handle the matter with urgency.
"I pray for her, and for all victims and survivors of gang rape. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) must act swiftly to verify the video, protect the victim, and uphold the rule of law," she concluded.
