It’s a big shame, ministers say of
attack
By Patrick Mathangani
The Government yesterday apologised to the family of writer
Ngugi wa Thiong’o for last week’s attack in which his wife Njeeri was raped.
Justice minister Kiraitu Murungi, his Roads counterpart
Raila Odinga, and Assistant Minister Kivutha Kibwana condemned the attack and vowed the
attackers would be brought to justice.
"We assumed no one could hurt Ngugi. As it has turned
out, there was a major lapse. We should have offered some security even if the family did
not request it," Kibwana said.
Kiraitu said the Government would enhance security around
Ngugi to avoid another attack, adding that it was investigating the case.
"It was meant to scare and intimidate them and send
them back to America," Kiraitu said. He added that he would write to Education
minister George Saitoti requesting that Ngugi’s books, which have long banned in
Kenya’ schools, be put back on the syllabus.
Raila said: "As a nation, we are ashamed and
scandalised by the brutal act committed by these criminals." He said Ngugi was a
national figure who had contributed immensely to democratisation.
The ministers comforted the Ngugis at the Nairobi Hospital
before they were discharged after five days of treatment.
At Njeeri’s news conference, there was confusion as to
who had drafted the first statement to the effect that the four-man gang had
"attempted to rape" Njeeri.
Asked by reporters whether there was a conspiracy to
distort what happened, psychiatrist Frank Njenga said doctors may not have said what
Njeeri wanted said. But Ngugi said he was the one who wrote "attempted rape,"
adding that he could not blame the media for the erroneous report.
Njeeri said Ngugi may have misunderstood what had happened
when she told him about her ordeal in the hands of the attackers.
The medical team of physician Dan Gikonyo, gynaecologist
Jean Kagia and psychiatrists Anna Nguithi and Njenga said the couple had recovered
sufficiently to leave hospital.
Meanwhile, eight human rights groups demanded immediate
action on rising cases of rape. They charged in a statement that the Government did not
appear to be in charge of security and demanded laws be passed to protect women.
They are the Coalition of Violence Against Women, Centre
for Rights, Education and Awareness, the Cradle, Nairobi Women’s Hospital, Federation
of Women Lawyers, Women Rights Awareness Programme, Association of Media Women in Kenya,
Kenya Human Rights Commission and Equality Now. |
