Kenyan #MyDressMyChoice Campaign Spotlights Women's Rights

A recent mob attack sparked this growing movement.

Marching for Women's Freedom and Respect - A jezebel. That’s what a mob of men called one Kenyan woman as they stripped her naked and assaulted her at a Nairobi bus stop in November. The cause? The men disagreed with the “indecent” length of her skirt. Shortly after a video of the incident went viral, a local group of women’s rights activists joined together to speak out against sexual harassment and assault on a national level. Keep reading to learn more about how these Kenyan activists are demanding freedom and respect. — Patrice Peck(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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Marching for Women's Freedom and Respect - A jezebel. That’s what a mob of men called one Kenyan woman as they stripped her naked and assaulted her at a Nairobi bus stop in November. The cause? The men disagreed with the “indecent” length of her skirt. Shortly after a video of the incident went viral, a local group of women’s rights activists joined together to speak out against sexual harassment and assault on a national level. Keep reading to learn more about how these Kenyan activists are demanding freedom and respect. — Patrice Peck(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

A Memorable Name - The viral video inspired a young Facebook group, Kilimani Mums, to launch an impactful, proactive campaign that would also make a great hashtag. The members settled on the name #MyDressMyChoice, which quickly started trending in Kenya’s social media sphere.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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A Memorable Name - The viral video inspired a young Facebook group, Kilimani Mums, to launch an impactful, proactive campaign that would also make a great hashtag. The members settled on the name #MyDressMyChoice, which quickly started trending in Kenya’s social media sphere.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

A Protest at the Park - To amplify the campaign, Njeri Migide, Lily Manegenel, Rita Kigera, Monicah Wanjau, Diana Rose, Sharon Okemo, Caroline Mwangi and several other Kilimani Mum members decided to hold a protest at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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A Protest at the Park - To amplify the campaign, Njeri Migide, Lily Manegenel, Rita Kigera, Monicah Wanjau, Diana Rose, Sharon Okemo, Caroline Mwangi and several other Kilimani Mum members decided to hold a protest at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

First-Time Organizers - "Planning for the protest wasn't really easy because, one, we don't have an office, so we had to organize one,” Migide told BET.com. “We had never participated in any protest, hence, had no idea how to do one. But we sat down [and] got the facts."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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First-Time Organizers - "Planning for the protest wasn't really easy because, one, we don't have an office, so we had to organize one,” Migide told BET.com. “We had never participated in any protest, hence, had no idea how to do one. But we sat down [and] got the facts."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

A Chance to Stand Together - "We shall go and deliver a message to the touts who stripped our sister that it is wrong and a woman has a right to dress the way she wants,” read the group’s Facebook event page. "This is our chance to stand together as women and deliver a message to our country that sexual violence will not be tolerated."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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A Chance to Stand Together - "We shall go and deliver a message to the touts who stripped our sister that it is wrong and a woman has a right to dress the way she wants,” read the group’s Facebook event page. "This is our chance to stand together as women and deliver a message to our country that sexual violence will not be tolerated."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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Hundreds Turn Out - Nearly 1,000 people wearing purple ribbons and various hemlines turned out for the protest, with participants aged 25 to 50 marching through the downtown area. Middle class women were the majority, said Migide, although there were a number of men supporters also.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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Hundreds Turn Out - Nearly 1,000 people wearing purple ribbons and various hemlines turned out for the protest, with participants aged 25 to 50 marching through the downtown area. Middle class women were the majority, said Migide, although there were a number of men supporters also.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

A Global Stage - Local and international media outlets also covered the demonstration, but perhaps the most significant attendees were the Chief Justice and Inspector General, both of whom allegedly vowed to tackle sexual harassment and assault against local women.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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A Global Stage - Local and international media outlets also covered the demonstration, but perhaps the most significant attendees were the Chief Justice and Inspector General, both of whom allegedly vowed to tackle sexual harassment and assault against local women.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

Only 3 Days to Organize - The biggest challenge Kilimani Mums faced when organizing the protest was the time constraint. “We needed it to happen while it was still fresh in the minds of Kenyans,” Migide said. The group ultimately managed to plan and successfully execute the event in only three days.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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Only 3 Days to Organize - The biggest challenge Kilimani Mums faced when organizing the protest was the time constraint. “We needed it to happen while it was still fresh in the minds of Kenyans,” Migide said. The group ultimately managed to plan and successfully execute the event in only three days.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

"Thugs" Threaten Protesters  - In addition to a lack of time, the group also experienced security issues and interruptions from local rival groups who vocally condemned the #MyDressMyChoice campaign and threatened to strip any participants. "Those are the men who tried to push us back during the protest by issuing threats and even stealing our banner, but they did not deter us," Migide said, referring to the pictured men as "thugs." "We marched on and accomplished what we set out to."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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"Thugs" Threaten Protesters  - In addition to a lack of time, the group also experienced security issues and interruptions from local rival groups who vocally condemned the #MyDressMyChoice campaign and threatened to strip any participants. "Those are the men who tried to push us back during the protest by issuing threats and even stealing our banner, but they did not deter us," Migide said, referring to the pictured men as "thugs." "We marched on and accomplished what we set out to."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

Another Attack Soon After - According to AP, a mob of Kenyan men attacked and stripped a woman whose clothing they deemed inappropriate just hours after the march. The unidentified victim was hospitalized with injuries. Police officials told reporters that nearly 100 people were arrested.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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Another Attack Soon After - According to AP, a mob of Kenyan men attacked and stripped a woman whose clothing they deemed inappropriate just hours after the march. The unidentified victim was hospitalized with injuries. Police officials told reporters that nearly 100 people were arrested.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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A Worldwide Issue - Sexual harassment is not new to the East African country, however, the issue has escalated into a rising wave as of late. Similarly, national discussions on sexual harassment have also recently emerged in the United States, Germany, Egypt and other nations across the globe.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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A Worldwide Issue - Sexual harassment is not new to the East African country, however, the issue has escalated into a rising wave as of late. Similarly, national discussions on sexual harassment have also recently emerged in the United States, Germany, Egypt and other nations across the globe.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

Next Steps - "The next steps are the hard ones,” Migide told BET.com. "We need to invest in courses in our schools to sensitize our children on the need to be respectful to other people’s choices and opinions. We also need to have policies put in place that would take care of such acts of violence against women.” The activist also wants to see each perpetrator arrested and charged for his actions.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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Next Steps - "The next steps are the hard ones,” Migide told BET.com. "We need to invest in courses in our schools to sensitize our children on the need to be respectful to other people’s choices and opinions. We also need to have policies put in place that would take care of such acts of violence against women.” The activist also wants to see each perpetrator arrested and charged for his actions.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

Not a "Primitive" Society - So far, the issue of sexual harassment and assault has been tabled and discussed amongst the Kenyan parliament, having reportedly gained the support of several members in the process. Even Deputy President William Ruto has called for the arrest of attackers. Kenya is not a “primitive” society, he said.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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Not a "Primitive" Society - So far, the issue of sexual harassment and assault has been tabled and discussed amongst the Kenyan parliament, having reportedly gained the support of several members in the process. Even Deputy President William Ruto has called for the arrest of attackers. Kenya is not a “primitive” society, he said.(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

New Versus Old - Conservative groups and other proponents of the #MyDressMyChoice campaign argue that women must dress appropriately. This volatile debate boils down to a clash between new, Western lifestyles and traditional African ways, AP's Jason Straziuso wrote. Migide voiced a similar sentiment, saying modern day women in Kenya "are still fighting for their voices to be heard in this patriarchal society."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)

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New Versus Old - Conservative groups and other proponents of the #MyDressMyChoice campaign argue that women must dress appropriately. This volatile debate boils down to a clash between new, Western lifestyles and traditional African ways, AP's Jason Straziuso wrote. Migide voiced a similar sentiment, saying modern day women in Kenya "are still fighting for their voices to be heard in this patriarchal society."(Photo: Ssemakula Mukiibi)