A Kenyan radio station has been in turmoil since last week. Three animators were interrupted and then fired after, to say the least, shocking comments to a woman, subjected to gender-based violence. The three men suggested that a young Kenyan woman may be partly responsible for his assault. These comments sparked an uproar in the country.
Wednesday morning, the show “Lift Off” takes place on Homeboyz Radio. Three animators, Shafie Weru, Neville Musya and DJ Joe Mfalme, evoke the case of a young woman, seriously injured, after being defenested from the 12th floor by a man whose progress she had just refused.
The hosts then wonder if Kenyan women are “too easy, too accessible, too seductive”, causing a stir especially on social networks.
Homeboyz Radio suspended the three men and forced them to follow an awareness campaign on gender issues, ethics and debates about sexual abuse.
The hosts apologized. “I realize that my sensitive and hurtful statements can be interpreted as encouraging a culture of violence against women,” acknowledged Shaffie Weru. “I apologize for all the damage I have caused,” DJ Joe Mfalme said on Friday.
But the case did not end there. On Saturday, Africa Brewerie Limited, one of the radio’s sponsors, suspended ads on programs related to the trio. During the process, the three animators were fired.
On Monday, the Communications Authority in turn dropped a $ 10,000 fine for the station, which will broadcast its apologies in the media and on the antennas.
The Lift Off program is closed for six months.
