Fresh Details have emerged over a controversial viral video of Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ng’ondi which showed him appearing to force a Muslim colleague to hug and shake his hand.
Ng’ondi was captured in the video appearing to force the female colleague to indulge him during a birthday celebration in what looks like an office setting.
The video which went viral on April 16, 2024, caused an uproar on social media with the speaker facing criticism from many for disregarding the woman’s personal boundaries, religious background, and consent.
However, a spot check by The Kenya Times established that the viral video was taken at a birthday party that happened back in 2022.
The Kenya Times conducted a reverse image search which led us to the Speaker’s Facebook page where he had posted some of the photos from the ceremony.
In the photos posted by the speaker, he can be seen with other members of the County Assembly including the female colleague in the viral video.
The speaker is seen visibly happy enjoying the birthday party which was flaunted by refreshments including a birthday cake.
Also Read: Outrage as Nairobi Speaker Forces Woman to Shake Hands & Hug
“What a pleasant surprise by my colleagues at the Nairobi County Assembly as I celebrated my birthday alongside The Majority Leader Hon. Peter Imwatok Jateso,” posted Ng’ondi.
Speaker Condemned
The viral video which has since caused uproar among social media users further caught the attention of Association of Muslim Lawyers who condemned Ng’ondi.
The lawyers through a statement on April 16, 2024, equated the Speaker’s actions with physical and sexual assault.
“The Association of Muslim Lawyers vehemently condemn the despicable act by the Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly, forcefully demanding a Muslim woman to shake his hand which amounts to sexual and physical assault,” read the statement.
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They further urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to institute relevant charges against Ng’ondi, terming his behavior as unethical, criminal, and immoral.”
According to the association, such behavior which it termed as reprehensible, violated the woman’s religious beliefs and constituted a grave violation of bodily autonomy and dignity.
Viral video
In the viral video seen by The Kenya Times, Ng’ondi can be seen walking around the room acknowledging good wishes from his colleagues.
Most of them were already on their feet singing “Happy Birthday” to him before he walked towards the Muslim colleague who was sitting, creating a stir around her.
He then proceeds to goad her to stand up and shake his hand properly as other male colleagues sitting behind her join in and ask the woman to get up and do as the speaker instructed.
“Leo unisalimie na birthday! Ni birthday yangu…” (Today, shake hands with me for my birthday! It’s my birthday),” the speaker is heard saying.
At this point, the woman who is already evidently flustered and reluctant to stand up and even look up eventually gets up.
In addition, her uneasiness is palpable as the speaker throws his hands all over her, attempting to get her to ease off and hug him.
