Today in History: Kidero ‘Slaps’ Shebesh

On September 6, 2013, Nairobi County workers gathered outside City Hall to express their frustrations over unpaid salaries and poor working conditions.  Nairobi Women’s Representative Rachel Shebesh addressed the crowd of striking county workers at Jeevanjee Gardens before leading them to City Hall to confront then-Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero regarding their grievances.

When they did not see any effort from the Governor to address their concerns, Shebesh, accompanied by about 40 people, stormed the City Hall office and headed straight for Kidero’s office. They camped outside his office, demanding that Kidero come out to address their plight.

As Kidero finally emerged from his office, a heated exchange occurred between him and Shebesh, while people outside  Kidero’s office watched as the argument escalated.

Shebesh  Allegedly Slapped by Kidero 

In a video that circulated widely on social media shortly after the incident, Kidero appeared very angry, and it was alleged that he slapped Shebesh on the cheek. Shebesh stumbled for a moment before her aides helped her regain her balance.

After the alleged slap, Shebesh shouted, “Kidero, you have slapped me! You have slapped me, Kidero!”

A few minutes later, Kidero held a press conference denying that he had assaulted Shebesh.

“As far as I remember, I was in my office, and I don’t recall slapping anybody. All I know was a scuffle with a group of people trying to enter my office—it could have been thirty or forty,” he stated.

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Some of the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who were with Kidero at the press conference claimed that raising a hand does not necessarily equate to slapping someone. In contrast, Shebesh addressed the media shortly after the incident, maintaining that Kidero indeed slapped her.

“Deputy Governor amesema amekuja nisawa amekuja lakini mimi nangojea gavana ndio tutoke tuongee na wananchi  wako hapo nje tukiwa pamoja. Ile asante nimerudushiwa ni kofi ambayo nakuambia sijakula kwa mwanaume mwingine ,” she stated.

The incident, which occurred around 4 p.m., led to widespread condemnation. Many called out Kidero for misusing his power and disrespecting women. The National Gender and Equality Commission and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) urged investigations and legal action, while some lawmakers insisted on Kidero’s resignation.

Shebesh Says She Was Compensated by Former Governor

Kidero later apologised, saying that Shebesh had provoked him by physically assaulting him in the abdomen, a claim he said justified his reaction.

Meanwhile, Shebesh reported the assault to the Parliament Police Station, and Kidero went to the Central Police Station to accuse Shebesh of assaulting him.

In January 2014, Shebesh dropped her lawsuit against Kidero after they agreed to resolve the issue outside of court.

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In 2021, she shared in an interview with Ghetto Radio that they had reached an out-of-court settlement, with Kidero allegedly paying her nearly KSh 30 million in compensation.

She stated that this set an important example to prevent similar assaults on women leaders, saying, “If I had not gone strong on Kidero, I would have opened a floodgate for every woman vying for a seat to be treated the same way.”

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