Bearded woman allegedly forced to strip by police to prove her gender

Ms Teresiah Mumbi

A Kayole lady was humiliated by police officers because of her unique condition. She accused police officers of forcefully stripping her because they doubted her gender.

Teresiah Mumbi, who works as a tout along the Huruma route, claimed that two officers from Huruma Police station disgraced her because of her beard.

According to her, after the officers took note of her beard, they demanded that she strips down for them to confirm if she was indeed a woman. Despite pleading with the officers, they remained resolute on proving if she was a lady.

“Two officers came and told me to take off my clothes. They then examined me. I’m not sure what they saw but they told me to return to my cell,” she said.

Mumbi’s story angered Kenyans online with a majority calling for action against the perpetrators.  Homa Bay Women Rep Hon Gladys Wanga also weighed in on the matter saying that stern action should be taken against the officers involved in Ms Mumbi’s unwarranted humiliation.

''What happened to Mumbi is unacceptable. It is beyond imagination. It cannot be allowed to happen to anybody. It is inhuman. It is a violation of her rights. It is discrimination of the highest order. It is really malpractice on the part of the police. It cannot be allowed to pass,'' Hon Wanga said.

Mwanamke mmoja katika mtaa wa Kayole jijini Nairobi ametishia kuwashtaki maafisa wawili wa polisi katika kituo cha Huruma kwa madai kwamba walimdhalilisha kutoakana na maumbile yake ya kuwa na ndevu. #KTNLeo @marykilobi @KTNNews pic.twitter.com/9RM0W4J508 — KTN News (@KTNNews) May 24, 2018