By Gerald Mutethia
Outrage and grief have engulfed Meru County following the circulation of a disturbing video allegedly showing a young woman being raped while several men held her down and cheered on.
The incident is believed to have occurred on November 29, 2025, in the Laare area, Igembe North Sub-County.
Local leaders and cultural authorities have strongly condemned the act, calling it a shameful reflection of moral decay and a direct assault on community values, especially during the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Njuri Ncheke supreme council of elders Secretary General Murangiri Kiriinya speaks in Meru town
Meru Woman Rep Karambu Kailemia said the video expressed deep anguish, saying the community must not remain silent in the face of rising sexual and gender-based violence.
“My heart is heavy and troubled. It is shameful and disheartening to see what we have become as a society. We cannot continue being bystanders. I condemn this evil act and call on law enforcement to find all perpetrators both the attacker and those who recorded and encouraged him,” Kailemia said.
She urged police to move swiftly, protect witnesses, and ensure that all responsible individuals face justice.
“Necks must roll. Arrest them, arraign them in court, and have these beasts jailed. That is where they belong.” urging the public to raise awareness.
“Speak to ten people today about GBV to help eradicate this menace.”
Mitunguu MCA Mawira Kaaria condemned the act appealing for any member of public with crucial information to reveal the culprits.
“I have just been shown a video circulating of a woman who is being sexually molested allegedly in Laare in Igembe North. I couldn’t watch past the 3rd second. Grown up men cheering and recording a man who looks like he is mentally challenged while molesting a young woman. I am being informed by the Meru County GBV coordinator that there has been no complainant and the survivor is not known. Can anyone kindly with any information about the incident come forth? Please i beg,” Kaaria said.
Kaaria said he will personally offer a token of 10k to anyone who has information that would lead to identifying the survivor or the culprits.
“This has to come to an end. Let us all unite in condemning and taking action towards ending sexual and gender based violence in Meru,” he said.
Njuri Ncheke Elders Issue Stern Warning
The Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Elders has also condemned the attack in the strongest terms. Secretary General Murangiri Kiriinya described the incident as an insult to Ameru culture and a serious affront to community discipline and peace.
“We are sad and shocked by the criminal actions meted on young ladies and men. As custodians of Ameru culture, we demand forensic investigations and immediate arrests,” Murangiri said.
He warned that if the perpetrators fail to surrender within seven days, the council would invoke the traditional Kithiiri curse, a severe cultural sanction reserved for grave offenses.
Pattern of Rising Violence
Murangiri also raised alarm over additional disturbing incidents reported in the region, including the alleged forced re-circumcision of a young man from Kiegoi—despite having undergone the rite seven years earlier—and the reported sodomy of another young man in Athiru, both in Igembe South.
“These criminals must be arrested. If such things can happen, then something is wrong with the security apparatus in the county,” he said, adding that he had directed the Igembe North Njuri Ncheke chairman, Mr. Nduro, to conduct independent investigations.
He further appealed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to act swiftly and bring the perpetrators to book.
Community Demands Justice
The string of incidents has intensified calls for heightened vigilance and stronger action from security agencies. Local leaders and cultural elders insist that justice must be served to restore community trust and safeguard vulnerable members of society.
