Authorities are holding a U.S.-based Kenyan man after a disturbing video involving an intoxicated woman spread widely online, drawing public anger and calls for justice.
The man, James Opande, is reported to be in custody at the airport police station as he waits to be taken to court on Monday. Information about his arrest emerged through leaked WhatsApp messages he exchanged with a friend who was checking on him after the video caused an uproar.
In the messages, Opande stated that he was being held at the airport police station and was waiting for court action. He also said that activists were pushing for his prosecution and mentioned that the woman involved had been flown to Mombasa.
The text messages suggested that the situation had become serious and that authorities were moving fast due to public pressure and the nature of the allegations.
Police action did not stop with Opande alone. Two other suspects who were linked to the viral clip were also arrested earlier, showing that investigators were widening the net to cover everyone believed to be involved.
The case gained further attention after Geoffrey Mosiria, the Nairobi County Chief Officer of Citizen Engagement and Customer Care, shared updates on the matter. He confirmed that a red alert had been issued across East African airports, effectively blocking Opande from traveling back to the United States.
The woman at the center of the viral video.
According to the woman at the center of the case, who is a mother of one, she met Opande online and they began communicating regularly. She claimed that he promised to marry her and help her move abroad. When Opande later traveled to Kenya, he contacted her and asked her to meet him at an entertainment spot so they could spend time together.
The woman said Opande paid for her taxi to the venue and instructed that she be given drinks when she arrived. At the time, she was with Opande’s friends as she waited for him.
When he finally arrived, she alleged that he offered her a white substance and told her it would help reduce her level of intoxication. Instead, she claimed that after sniffing it, she felt dizzy and very drowsy.
She further alleged that Opande later asked her to take part in a sexual act involving his friends, which she refused. It was after this refusal, she said, that he recorded her in the compromising state that later appeared in the viral video. These claims have formed a key part of the investigation now underway.
The incident has divided public opinion. Some people have strongly demanded that Opande face the full force of the law, while others have criticized the woman and questioned her actions before the video was taken.
The debate online has been intense, with emotions running high on both sides.
The government has also stepped in. The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services, through Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot, stated that the ministry is working with relevant authorities to review the case and take appropriate action. Many now await Monday’s court appearance, hoping it will bring clarity and accountability in a matter that has shaken the public.
