Leaders condemn cyberbullying, sexual attacks against Soipan Tuya

Soipan, who served as Environment CS in President William Ruto’s first cabinet was on July 19 appointed to the same position, before she was switched to the Defence docket on July 23. 

Having survived a purge that saw other members of the first cabinet left out of Ruto’s new list, Soipan’s appointment attracted scrutiny on social media platforms. The scrutiny attracted negative remarks and sexual attacks on her rise to Cabinet.

This is despite the cabinet nominee having previously held other leadership positions including serving as a Woman Representative for Narok County for two terms. 

Now, women legislators from Laikipia, Samburu and Kajiado County have condemned the cyberbullying and sexual attack directed towards Soipan. 

“We ask the concerned authority to look into gender-based violence, every time a woman is appointed, people start talking bad things. Women who have been appointed are all qualified,” the legislators said. 

“We personally know Tuya. What we witness recently is gender based violence, the people with edited pictures should be brought to book. We are keenly observing the trend that when a woman is appointed, we start hearing that she is someone’s girlfriend.”

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo also condemned the attacks, saying that equal standards should be upheld when appointing male or female leaders. 

“I want to encourage the Gen Zs. I support them but let's not get trapped to the sexual innuendos,” Millie said. 

Soipan holds a law degree from the University of Nairobi. Before her political debut, she worked as a legal officer for non-profit organisations.