From Hello to Viral Humiliation

It broke my heart seeing those videos circulate so fast on social media. Within hours, they became the talk of the day. Everyone was sharing them, commenting on them, laughing at them, judging them. As I scrolled, clip after clip showed a Russian man luring Kenyan women and seducing them. What shocked me most was not just the content, but the method. The camera was inbuilt in his glasses. Hidden. Silent. Watching without permission.

What these women did not know was that they were being recorded.

Their faces.

Their voices.

Their private moments.

All captured without consent.

Yes, I know some people say the women made bad decisions. I know others call them loose. But making a bad choice does not mean a person deserves public humiliation. A mistake does not cancel dignity. Vulnerability is not consent. Being desperate is not permission to expose someone to the whole world.

Some of the women in those videos are mothers. Some are wives. Some are sisters and daughters to someone.

These are not just faces on a screen. These are people with families, with children who may one day see these videos, with partners who will be hurt, and with lives that have now been permanently changed. What was recorded in minutes may follow them for years. The internet does not forget.

What hurts even more is how quickly society condemns the women and forgets the ordinary lives they were living before everything changed. Some of them were simply going about their daily routines, moving up and down the city, minding their own business. Some had reported to work as usual that morning, unaware that by the end of the day their faces would be circulating online. In Kenyan culture, we are welcoming people; we respond to greetings and conversations because we are not rude. What may have started as a simple response to a greeting or a normal interaction turned into something they never expected. These women did not leave their homes planning to be exposed to the world; they were just living their lives when they met someone who was secretly recording them.

What makes this situation even more shocking is how casually he approached these women. Reports say he even went to church and simply greeted a girl, “Hello, how are you doing? You look good. I am from Russia, come with me.” A simple greeting, nothing that would raise alarm, yet behind those words, a hidden camera was recording, and a private moment was about to be stolen. This shows how easily trust can be exploited and how vulnerable ordinary interactions can become when someone has bad intentions.

Even more alarming are claims emerging online that he may have deliberately traveled to other countries, including Ghana, to do the same. Some reports suggest he had a mission of spreading disease, such as HIV, while publicly posting comments on his social media insulting African women, calling them loose and whores. Whether all these claims are fully verified or not, the thought alone adds a chilling layer to the trauma these women have experienced. Their safety, health, and trust were all violated in ways that go beyond privacy.

Reports also indicate that the man shows no remorse for his actions. On social media, he is said to have openly stated that he does not regret anything he has done. This attitude demonstrates a deliberate, calculated disregard for the dignity, privacy, and wellbeing of the women he targeted.

This is not an isolated incident. Reports indicate there was at least one other man who engaged in similar behavior, showing that this exploitation of women’s trust and vulnerability is not entirely unique. But whether it is one person or multiple, the result is the same: women are being violated in their privacy, dignity, and sense of safety. Is this desperation on the part of the women? Perhaps. But no level of desperation justifies exploitation. No one should be targeted because of need, trust, or loneliness.

The consequences of these actions are already being felt. Reports suggest that some marriages have been broken as a result of these videos, and today — of all days, Valentine’s Day — the irony is hard to ignore. Some women may face job loss, be forced to quit, or experience professional setbacks because their private lives were exposed without consent. The ripple effect of one person’s exploitation reaches far beyond the videos themselves, affecting families, careers, and communities in very real ways.

What hurts even more is how quickly the blame is placed on the women while the act of secretly recording them is ignored. Many online comments focus on judging their character instead of questioning the crime behind the camera. Yet the real issue is not what they did, but what was done to them. Recording someone secretly, especially in private or intimate moments, is an act of betrayal.

Beyond morality, there is the law. No one is allowed to record another person’s image or voice without their consent. No one has the right to distribute such recordings without permission. Recording someone using a hidden device, especially in situations where privacy is expected, is a serious violation of the law. A camera should never be used as a weapon. Social media should never be used as a courtroom where women are sentenced without a chance to defend themselves.

Other information that has emerged shows growing public concern about how these videos were recorded and shared. There are questions about consent, about exploitation, and about whether the women were aware their images would be posted online. Many people are now calling for investigations and for social media platforms to remove content that violates privacy and dignity.

Organizations that protect women’s rights should rise and condemn such actions. They should speak for the women who are now too ashamed or afraid to speak for themselves. Silence only protects those who exploit. Action protects those who suffer.

Respecting women does not mean pretending they are perfect. It means recognizing they are human. It means protecting them when they fall, not exposing them when they stumble.

Behind every video is a real life. Behind every trending face is a family. Behind every viral clip is trauma. There are reports of a woman who was among those targeted and later found dead in the city where he had been. It is claimed that she went for a test and received a positive result, though medically HIV testing cannot confirm infection just two days after exposure. What is clear, however, is the immense shame, fear, and ridicule she faced — the emotional burden was too much to bear. Whether all the details are verified or not, her story highlights the deep, lasting trauma and fear that can follow women who are exploited in such way

The phrase “destiny helper” has led some of our girls to believe that the only way they can succeed is by meeting their destiny helper, usually a man. But in reality, this belief has limited their sense of independence and self-empowerment. Many women think that men are the only path to success, instead of focusing on building their own skills, careers, and financial independence. What some of us don’t realize is that when a woman has her own money and independence, a man and what he brings becomes a bonus, not a necessity. We as women can also be destiny helpers to one another. We can change the perception and the narrative that destiny helpers must necessarily be men. We can support each other and build each other in many ways, whether it is by sharing our stories, starting initiatives, or helping girls rise without the need for special recognition. What matters is creating a peaceful and safe space for women to grow. We should break the belief that men are the only ones who can build nations, because even women can build nations. By standing together as women, we can gain economic power and independence, and in doing so, reduce situations of desperation that expose women to exploitation.

At the end of this story, my message to women is this: rise and embrace your independence. Build your skills, your career, and your financial freedom. Stand with one another, support each other, and celebrate each other’s successes. Protect your dignity, your privacy, and your dreams. Your worth is not defined by anyone else; it comes from your strength, your choices, and your courage.