Why is it that every time a young woman is killed she is tainted as being a slay queen with sugar daddies? Worse yet, she is castigated and blamed for ‘causing her own death’.
At around 10.30am, Ivy Wangeci lay on the ground, motionless, dead. Blood splattered all over the scene. Passers-by scared to the bone. She only managed one scream.
The man behind the killing is said to have come from Nairobi, armed with an axe and a knife. He reportedly lured her out of class, hit her on the head with the axe before slitting her throat.
Another life lost. Details of the man’s motive are yet to be established, but lo and behold, a section of Kenyans online declared themselves judge and jury and found Ivy ‘guilty of causing her own death’.
Among the theories leading to her death include that the man was a jilted lover of hers, while others claim that they were romantically involved and he only took her life after realizing he had contracted HIV/AIDS from her.
Many have concluded that she had many boyfriends and sponsors that led to her status. But why is it that every time a young woman seemingly beautiful and well kept together is assumed to have ‘sponsors’ managing her upkeep? That the word ‘slayqueen’ which has a negative connotation in Kenyan society is often pasted on her?
A presenter on a local radio station even found it fit to turn the murder incident into content for comedy: “She died because she wasn’t loyal. That’s the truth,” he said during his show on Tuesday.
“Ilibidi amChop…..UkiDate dereva atakunyonga na seatbelt. Msee wa butchery atakuchinja,” he added.
The station has since released a statement saying that the presenter’s show has been pulled off air and apologised for his ‘extremely poor taste’.
A local website even went further and published an article with the headline: “Young girls, avoid sponsors, they will infect you with HIV like IVY WANGECHI”
This as another Twitter user posed: “What would you do if somebody infects you with HIV/AIDS knowingly? IVY WANGECHI MOI UNIVERSITY”
It goes on and on and on.
Back in September last year, a similar incident occurred and in predictable fashion, a section of Kenyans online blamed the victim for her death.
The body of Sharon Otieno (a student at Rongo University) who was seven months pregnant at the time, was found with multiple stab wounds in the stomach, back and neck in Homa Bay. Her baby did not survive.
There are countless number of women whose killing may not have been splashed on newspapers, radio or TV, but whose memory is still tainted with crude, insensitive, ignorant and unwarranted statements.
Who is this slayqueen Kenyans so love to put blame on after her death?
The term slay queen emanated from Beyonce’s lyrics. Everywhere in the world, girls and modern women were inspired by her lyrics from the song “Formation” when she goes: “… I came to slay…coz I slay…” In her sense, slaying means showcasing style, fashion and high life.
Social media is awash with images of people that were apparently called to preach a gospel of high life. Their pictures, videos and stories paint the most attractive lifestyles that make their friends and followers green with envy.
They know the most appropriate ‘Kodak moments’- those settings when they get best shots on camera. Images have always been known to tell a thousand words. And these characters are eager to get a thousand comments envying their portrayed fancy lifestyles.
It’s the social media space where everyone wants to appear fabulous, expensive and outstanding. It is in this space where stylish women called slay queens are found in abundance.
They don’t miss an opportunity to show the world that they are living large and I guess many want Ivy’s death to be her fault simply because she seemed ‘to have it all’.
Despite the abundance of slay queens on social media, they cannot all be classified under one bracket. There are some who really portray true colours of fabulous lives while others push themselves to the edge in painting fake pictures of their lifestyles.
The fake slay queens are guilty of soiling the art of slaying. In most cases, this is the slay queen Kenyans love to mean. A sort of abuse if you may.
So many questions have emerged from the Ivy Wangeci incident. While the blogs are just trying to get traction, why is it that promiscuity sells in Kenya? Specifically when it’s the female’s in question.
Why are Kenyans so quick to cast the first stone while they themselves are worse off? It is sad to see that the brutal killing of a young woman under such inhumane conditions would bring so much satisfaction to someone; and not just that but even prompt others to go ahead and make meme’s and mock her death. We have all seen the distasteful meme’s online.
No one ever deserves to die, there is no crime big enough. But the worst of it is how society decides to point at someone’s own private bedroom affairs to justify her death. The celebration needs to stop. A family is mourning to someone else’s delight!
Life must be respected! We are not givers of life and as such as should not have the audacity to celebrate those who kill for whatever reason. Happy Birthday and RIP Ivy Wangeci.