Woman Jailed Over Indecent Dressing In Rwanda Sparks Debate In Kenya

A debate ensued across Kenya after reports emerged that a 24-year-old woman who was arrested in Rwanda faces up to two years in jail over public indecency.

Liliane Mugabekazi was arrested on Sunday, August 7 after she attended a concert by popular French musician Tayc eight days earlier, wearing a sheer dress.

A photo of the dress was soon shared on social media which went viral more than a week later, sparking mixed reactions amongst the Rwandan citizens and had drawn the attention of Kenyans on Twitter (KOT).

"So in Rwanda, you get arrested and charged for indecent exposure when you dress like this? Should Kenya and Nigeria go the Rwanda way or would that be unnecessary meddling?" Awuor Okuta posed.

Liliane Mugabekazi captured in an indecent outfit at a concert in Rwanda. /CHRONICLES RWANDA

"You mean to tell us Rwandan police and authorities don't have important matters to worry and handle about other than what a grown woman does with her body?

"Is it boredom? Do they need actual work to do other than arresting a woman for indecency? What does indecency even mean?" posed Judicaelle Irakoze, a Burundi-USA afro-political feminist.

However, some government officials including former justice minister Johnston Busingye backed the move, terming Mugabekazi's actions as a threat to the country's decency.

“The current issue of our young men and women who drink and drug themselves unconscious, appear in public literally naked is objectionable.

“I support the efforts…to address it,” tweeted Busingye, who is now Rwanda’s ambassador to Britain.

The spokesman for the prosecution, Faustin Nkusi, told AFP that the 24-year-old attended the concert while wearing clothes that reveal her private parts, clothes that were termed as shameful. The prosecution had sought a court order to remand her for 30 days.

Mugabekazi through her lawyer argued that the photo was taken while she was not aware, at a time when she had opened her coat in excitement during the concert, revealing the see-through jumpsuit she was wearing on the inside. She added that security wouldn’t have allowed her in had she been ‘naked’ as it has been alleged.

The court has since denied her bail and will stay in detention as pleaded by Prosecution in a closed session. She was charged with "Public Indecency" for which she could be jailed for up to two years as per Rwanda's Article 143 of the Penal Code.