It is a nation at the crossroad. Untold shock reverberated across the country as eleven girls were impounded engaging in sexual activity with a dog. From the shores of the Indian Ocean to the plains of Budalang’i in Busia County, Kenyans of all walks of life were dumbfounded. “How can it be?” they asked.
In my home village of Es’sumba, Bunyore western Kenya; as is in every corner of our country; old men and women are in denial about what just happened.
They’re embarrassed and thus speaking in low tones about bestiality story that continues to rule the Kenyan media. The shame visited upon parents of the eleven girls is unimaginable.
From the good old African philosophical perspective, such a despicable act would be considered bad omen to the community. Special cleansing of the perpetrators accompanied by ritualistic sacrifices and invocation would be mandated to reconcile the community with the supreme-being. But we are creatures of modernity.
Although the modern day social media is a buzz, our ancestors must be turning in their graves wondering whether they didn’t do something right to bequeath a moral society to this generation that John the Baptist would call “brood of vipers.”
Yet, never in the moral history of our nation has a story dampened the hearts of young and old folks alike.
In a twinkling of an eye, our pride as a Christian nation came down tumbling as eleven women in Nyali, Mombasa were arrested and arraigned before the court of law for engaging in group-sex with a dog.
The Kenyan media reported that eleven Kenyan women and a Swedish citizen were arrested in an exclusive apartment in Nyali that operates as a brothel.
Surprisingly, the Swedish national arrived in the country disguised as a tourist. The foreigner was on a mission to shoot pornographic videos. Yet this wasn’t your ordinary pornography. It was pornography of girls gone wild with a dog.
It is called bestiality, a sin upon which Judeo-Christian tradition frowns and declares curses to the perpetrator. Deuteronomy 27:21 elucidates: “Cursed is the man [woman] who has sexual relations with any animal.”
My Facebook friend Mrs. Stella Khaoya, case manager at Kenyan law courts; captured with profound sadness the moral turpitude of our society. “The country has gone to the dogs”, she updated her Facebook status with resignation. “So we are under-dogs?” Stella’s friend commented.
However, moral quagmire presented by this story cannot be gainsaid. The story tore into pieces the moral fabric of our nation. It is a national shame. May be our institutions have relegated their responsibilities. That’s why we must collectively ask difficult questions and demand pragmatic answers.
Why would college educated, beautiful, opinionated, smart, articulate girls who seemingly have a bright future be lured into sexual activity with a dog? Could financial difficulties be compelling reasons behind this despicable act of bestiality? Have we lost our moral compass? Have parents and guardians lost their responsibility as role models? Have churches and other places of worship lost their moral authority to re-awaken the conscience of our nation?
In my opinion, this despicable act of bestiality left the whole nation vulnerable. May be, just may be these girls mirrored the fallen nature of our national image. From corruption, tribalism, impunity to injustices against the disenfranchised ones; our country seems to be slowly but surely sliding into the bottomless pit of immorality.
We need to introspectively re-examine our individual and collective morality that once defined our nation at independence. Our churches and places of worship should play their role without fear. Our parents and guardians should reclaim their role modeling responsibility so as families can produce responsible children. Responsibility on a personal level should be reclaimed as a virtue not a weakness.
But until we fix the moral integrity of our nation, we will forever remain in limbo-one nation under confusion. Today may have been a shock of bestiality. But tomorrow could even be a jaw breaking immorality that will shake every corner of the world.
By Jacktone S. Ambuka, a Kenyan residing at State-college Pennsylvania USA. You can reach me at jsambuka@yahoo.com , follow me on twitter @JackAmbuka or check my Facebook page called Bunyore Discussion Board.
