Rift Valley's Iten town witnesses 15 men bathed in public

By Fred Kibor

ITEN, KENYA: There was drama in Iten town over the weekend as members of the public rounded up allegedly stinking individuals before subjecting them to thorough washing.

In the daylong exercise dubbed ‘angamiza uchafu na chawa Iten’15 men were rounded up and thoroughly cleaned, shaved and later, each was issued with a complete set of new clothing.

More drama was yet to unfold as the young men engaged in hide and seek games trying to escape from being taken to the public bathroom at the heart of Iten town and those who refused to walk were frog marched by a group of heavy-built men.

The round up mainly targeted juakali mechanics and loaders at the Iten open air market who have been accused for seldom taking bath but bodaboda operators that had been also single out escaped the washing following a tipoff.

William Kiprono popularly known as simataa said the men had been a disgrace in the town because of their dirt.

“This is an upcoming tourist town and it’s an eyesore to see grown up men infested with lice and stinking roaming the town freely,” simataa told The Standard after the exercise.

He said they decided to round up the unhygienic men and have them take bath since it was evident most of them at avoided cleaning themselves for a long time.

Simataa said they mobilized resources before the exercise and both the clothing and soap.

After the exercise one of the cleaned up men only identified as Pius a mechanic, said he was thankful he had been cleaned because he had not showered for over a year.

“I rarely have time to shower since after my daily work I go to a drinking den,’” said the mechanic.

The mechanic said he will ensure that each morning before going to work he will ensure he takes a shower to avoid future embarrassment.

Last year another group of dirty men were frog marched to a car wash and subjected to a cleanup exercise.

Simataa said they will on the lookout and will force any individual doing business in the town while stinking to public cleaning.