Kenyans have expressed their anger towards the government after a Census enumerator in Maseno, Kisumu County she was gang-raped and robbed on Saturday night.
According to Nyanza Police boss Dr. Vincent Makhoha, the woman who is already hospitalized was ambushed outside her gate after she had been dropped off by her supervisor.
It is said that the suspects were hiding in a thicket near the woman’s gate and pounced on her immediately she was dropped off. The supervisor who dropped her has so far been suspended by the County Statistics Department due to negligence.
Immediately after the unfortunate reports, angry Kenyans took to their social media sites to express their frustrations over the government’s decisions to have the exercise conducted at night.
Many asked why security officers were so busy running after bar attendants, clients and ensuring that all joint public places were closed instead of offering adequate security to the Census personnel.
Here are some of the reactions from Facebook and Twitter:
Sad that for the census official as the Police in Kisumu are hunting for men who gang raped an enumerator in Maseno on Saturday night. Why was the security that is said to be beefed up during this period?
— Kawangware Finest™️ (@cbs_ke) August 25, 2019
Nicholas Otieno With all those policemen I see on national holiday celebrations, the cant post one policeman per 2 census guys? Just for a day. Surely.
Where were the security assigned? They should be held liable. They should hv taken her home safely.
— 𝕶𝖊𝖊𝖒 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝕳𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓 🇰🇪 (@kinskom) August 25, 2019
Monicah Mwangi I won’t open my door at night for anyone. Let them conduct the exercise day time
Not me!! Come and arrest me.
Cornel Ouma Where was the security officers because I heard all of them was to be provided by one or two,
That Supervisor ought to be sacked & the officers who were supposed to be providing security interdicted immediately. Just why would they think it's OK to drop a woman alone at night in a thicket without first ensuring she was home safe? As for the culprits, find & shoot them.
— #MUFCholic (@Timo_Utd) August 25, 2019
Nickson Wawire I hate people doing Census at night this exposes enumerator and general public to risks of attack by goons and criminals this is really unfortunate people and even children being waken up at midnight is uncalled for, Census should have been done during the day and not night as we are humans not animals that we wait until it’s time to get to the house for counting process
Andy Blaćķïë A funny Republic how sad yet security personnel were all over the bars ensuring they remain closed what a stupid exercise this is, a sad ordeal.
As a former student of maseno, I know the area is popular for its notorious rapists and the police well aware of this should have put extra measures to guarantee security for enumerators.
— k mwas (@mwangijohn64_k) August 25, 2019
Only day 1 of the exercise and we have such news! Why did Matiangi lie to us? Let the exercise be strictly done during daylight for the security of our enumerators and us too.
— Count Olaf (@Olaf_Ke) August 25, 2019
Do you mean the security provided is that of walking from house to house but there after safety of the officials are not given priority?? sad story.
— Knowles Le Grand Sape (@KnowleysT) August 25, 2019
The G.o.K deployed a huge number of police to ensure that bars were closed and harrasing people on their way home. There are reports from Thika Githuraia etc. Instead of protecting the poor enumerators. So sad
— Mark Anthony (@2MobKaz) August 25, 2019
I stay in Kahawa some places hakuna stima. Tulihesabiwa saa sita usiku n the enumerator came alone wakiwa na mzee wa mtaa no police
— Mark Anthony (@2MobKaz) August 25, 2019