Karen Nyamu
Image: Courtesy

Online rumours that a popular photo of Karen Nyamu with a black eye was the consequence of gender-based assault have been refuted by Nyamu.

"You know I am not one to care what guys are saying about my personal life or whatever. Whatever you want to say about me you know unakuanga free. Si catch sijali as in I don't really have an issue. In fact saa zile hamniongelei nakuanga a bit concerned."   

In response to internet users' worries about her eye, Nyamu went on Facebook live on Sunday, June 25, and discussed a problem she is having.    

 

In the 10-minute video, Karen continues. "But there is something that has drawn my attention. It is a photo that we took on Friday at a function in Nyeri a Scout and Girl Guides Function where the speaker of the Senate was the chief guest at the closing ceremony and so we had accompanied him with some Senators and this photo nimepigwa imefunika macho yangu moja, whatever alafu sijui kuna nini.

So watu wanamake fun of gender based violence especially watu wale hawanilike, they think that gender-based violence is something you can use to settle scores or something you should wish on your enemies and these are women. We can't be this ignorant in this day and age. Gender-based violence is a serious issue, it affects 40 percent of women in Kenya just like in Africa it affects more women than men."

She asserted that she hadn't been hit and that she had no black eye.

 

"There are many factors that lead to women getting being victims most of the time and it also the disproportionate economic empowerment between men and women.

Women tend to be less empowered and it doesn't exclude even empowered women being victims of gender-based violence. I personally have been a victim in the past and I'm not one to keep quiet about such a thing ama kuficha and if there's one truthful person after Riggy G in this country it is Karen Nyamu.

So hiyo si kitu naeza nyamazia. Na nimeona on my post and imeni concern kidogo. I have raised it with the person who could have been the person who people think has hit me, ameniambia ah we lenga uciu ni wana (In kikuyu to mean its nonsense) you know how we dismiss things every other thing that is said about us."

She continued by implying that the person who hit her insisted she disregard rumors and the person referred to them as "ni wana," which is nonsense, appearing to contradict herself.

"But for me gender-based violence si kitu naeza sweep under the carpet and it just surprises me how if it is true ni ukweli nimegongwa ngumi kama ni kweli nimekuwa na black eye yani hivo ndo imekuwa tuu stori ya gossip," Karen narrated.

She continued by saying that while she had previously suffered gender-based abuse, it wasn't happening right now.

She also posted a photo with the comment "nothing but prayers" in response to someone who seemed to be making fun of her predicament.

"Sijacome hapa kusema ati sijapigwa ngumi juu sijapigwa ngumi and wale walikua jana mugithi muliniona in Naivasha there was no violence it was fun times.

That's beside the point. My main reason for coming live tonight is to maybe raise awareness among people who think that dame ama chali kuchapwa ni kitu ya kawaida it is not.

Na si kitu ya ku settle scores nayo. Kuna wengine wanasema ungemvunja mguu, oh nothing but prayers, uciu ni wana. It's something very serious."