Residents turn gardens into altar of immorality

It was disgrace for residents of Kakamega Town after pictures of couples making it out at a recreational ground were made public.

A wild uproar hit the town after explicit pictures taken at the historical Muliro Gardens were circulated on the Internet.

Religious leaders from Western Province also condemned Muliro obscenities at Gardens, calling on the Government to take action.

Bishops Simon Oketch (ACK, Maseno North Diocese) and Titus Khamala said the images painted Kakamega negatively.

“People now think sex in public places is what residents of Kakamega do to pass time,” said Rev Khamala.;

Rev Oketch said the municipal council and the police should put in place measures to stop such acts from happening.

“We are not going to sit back and watch such things happen. It is disgusting and totally unacceptable,” he said.

Separately, local civic leaders pledged to push for council askaris to be deployed at the gardens.

Clearly visible

“We were equally shocked when we saw the pictures on the Internet. What makes matters worse is that the acts happened only a few metres from municipal council offices,” said Councillor Joe Serenge.

The councillors, who visited The Standard offices in Kakamega to issue a statement, called on the police to arrest the culprits.

“Our colleagues in other councils are wondering what has become of Kakamega,” said councillor Christopher Likolokoli.

”]“Since their faces are clearly visible, the police should move in and arrest them,” added Mr Serenge.

Muliro Gardens, a gazetted national monument under the National Museums of Kenya, appeared to have a new function.

Several pictures of couples having sex on a bamboo bench at the gardens were circulated on the Internet, to the disbelief of many residents.

However, a worker at the garden who sought anonymity said the pictures were nothing new to him.

“These acts happen here all the time. It is only that the matter has now been made public,” he said.

Khamala regretted that Kakamega now looks like a destination for immoral activities following the postings on the Internet.

“Muliro Gardens is a place to rest, a meeting place or a place to hold rallies. It is not a place for immoral activities like what we are seeing on the Internet,” he said.

In one of the images, two police officers are seen talking to a couple whom they caught pants down.

Kakamega OCPD Joseph Omijah said he was unaware of the pornographic images, but promised to investigate the matter.

He vowed to take action against any officer who could have put up with the immorality.

“I am not aware if there have been any arrests made to that effect,” he added.