Kenyan celebrities accused of gender violence and those who have been on the receiving end

The song Sirudi by Elani featuring Jaguar perhaps best captures the ill that is gender-based violence in our society; where one half of a seemingly happy couple has to put up with a violent partner but still portray "the image" to society. The sad news is that this can have tragic consequences. The happenings in mainstream media in the last couple of weeks have sadly illustrated this.

Sirudi comes complete with documented statistics that show more women on the receiving end of the oppressors and abusers and prominent personalities have not been spared either, in some instances brazenly in the glare of our cameras.

Radio personality Adelle Onyango has on numerous occasions championed various social campaigns against violence following a personal experience.

"In 2008 I got raped and I was in a dark place for a long time after that. I thought I was broken," she says of the incident that came to light in 2012.

"Life as I knew it will never be the same but I am letting the experience shape me for better. I conquered and I want my life story to inspire someone else to be a conqueror," she explains why she lent her voice to the Unicef #EndViolence campaign championed by Janet Mbugua against online violence.

"In whatever relationship, violence can never be justified. We have normalised violence, which is the genesis of this vice," she says.

Sure enough, Adelle's story inspired TV presenter Elizabeth Irungu to tell her story of being sexually assaulted. The pest in question who posed as a friend to her boyfriend led her to an open field behind a mosque and tried having his way with her.

In a Facebook post narrating her ordeal it reads in part, "he tripped me and I fell. He started striping my top as he strangled me. I could not be heard screaming because the loud call for prayers from the mosque was drowning my screams." She, however fought him hard and just as he was about to have his way some street urchins spotted the struggle and run towards them, throwing stones at him shouting "shika huyo! (seize him!)".

She says that telling her story lifted a certain weight off her shoulder, but the ordeal is something she would not wish even on her worst enemy.

For rapper Kush Tracey trouble started in the club 1824 when ex-boyfriend Timmy accused Kush of being involved with a certain MCA. The incident which she refers to as a 'misunderstanding' lead to Timmy sorting their differences in public as the two got physical.

"(The fight) attracted the attention of the taxi drivers outside 1824, they came and tried to stop him. However I forgive him and am moving past that," she said. Faced with these allegations, Timmy denied assaulting Kush Tracey but admitted there was a small confrontation. Despite the break up, he said that most of all he would miss her bedroom skills.

"There is nothing worth beating someone over. Violence is never the solution to anything at whatever level. It can never be justified," says Adelle. Gospel musician Size 8 adds that while it is not normal, lack of or no proper channels of communication can trigger violence

"If one does not know the basics of communication; do not raise your voice, listen, do not get angry, it is just a matter of time before they resort to violence. How do we then learn the basics when we are glued to our phones," she asks, perhaps alluding to another reason young couples resort to violence.

"That plus, people just have personal issues they need to deal with first," she adds and quotes inferiority complex as an example.

According to Kaka Empire's in-house DJ JR, the increase in cases of violence could be a generational issue.

"There is also the conversation around how this generation is dealing with rejection and betrayal," he opines.

When screenshots of what was alleged to be a famous radio presenter's wife battered face made rounds on the Internet in 2014, Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) criticised the radio host for beating up his wife. The conversation raged on for a long while with many agreeing that violence has no place in relationships.

Former BBA representative Ann Mbaru was almost sexually assaulted by a taxi driver on her to a different club from Club Vineyard one Sunday night. Detailing her horrific ordeal on her social media platform, the beauty gave the number plate of the taxi driver's car warning people against the man who threatened to rape her.

"He fondled my womanhood, as in my breasts and told me to shut up. Power is everything in this country. I used powerful names to get him off my body. I want this number plate traced. I pray his karma is not his daughter because the situation I was in was disarming," reads the post in part.

While we are yet to see any action taken on the man alleged to have attempted to rape her, Ann Mbaru admits that she has learned from her experience and taken precautions against a repeat offence.

"I never move around by myself at night, just in case someone gets ideas. Also, I use trusted taxis and so should every other lady out there," she says as advice to all ladies.

Controversial gospel artiste Willy Paul has been accused of beating and choking ex-girlfriend video vixen Michelle Dyer, following a call that she made at night.

"Willy Paul has been violent with me twice. The first time he strangled me and left bruises on my neck. This was because he wanted my phone and I would not let him have it. But I let it go until recently when he followed me to work and caused a huge scene, punching me in the stomach .

I have several eye witnesses to prove that he followed me there and started hitting me. It is okay though, I hold nothing against him all I can say that what he did to me was not right all I did was love him but I guess everything has its limits," said the video vixen who was living with Willy Paul at the time. Later he was accused of coercing, including beating, a subsequent girlfriend Leila into having an abortion.

Producer Enos Olik is of the opinion that any man that raises a hand towards a woman is a coward. In addition he advices women, "as cliché as it sounds, when he raises a hand at you once, he is bound to do it again. You are better off gone than wait for someone to kill you."