2nd March 2015 Regina Nyambura, is probably more popularly known as the Kenyan woman who was stripped and subsequently robbed by six men a few months ago at a bus stop for wearing a mini skirt. The situation generated a great amount of buzz, with protests kicking off across much of the continent and the hashtag #MyDressMyChoice trending. In a very surprising turnaround, Regina has filed an application to the court to the effect that she wants the matter dropped, as she has forgiven her attackers and chooses to move on.
She might not get her wish so easily, as the prosecution however feels quite the opposite and is pushing for the accused men to undergo the full extent of the law. The prosecution’s argument is first that the issue is one of public interest and second, that robbery and assault are very punishable offences. Despite a heated exchange between the prosecution and the defence lawyer, the prosecution told the court that it was not possible to withdraw the case.
The men, Michael Kamau, Zachary Gitonga, Kelvin Njuguna, David Kinuthia, Lawrence Kuria and Hosea Kassim are charged with stripping and violently robbing Nyambura of her mobile phone, 61 eggs and nine hundred and fifty Kenyan Shillings.
The chief magistrate Caro Ocharo in charge of the case advised Regina to consider the charges before withdrawing the matter.