Meru woman in viral leaked video asks for forgiveness, says she was misled

A middle-aged woman at the centre of a viral video scandal that has stirred outrage and sympathy online is now pleading for forgiveness, saying she was blackmailed and manipulated into the ordeal during a time of financial desperation.

The distraught woman, speaking through tears in a video shared online, said she was tricked by another woman who promised to help her “find a husband” and improve her financial situation.

“Mimi ni mama mwenye mnaskia habari yake. Naona aibu kuelezea hizi vitu juu ni za aibu. Mimi nilidanganywa na msichana mwingine akaniambia kuja nikuonyeshe vile utapata bwana…” she began, visibly emotional.

According to her account, the woman, identified only as a mother of seven dependents said she met someone online who claimed to be interested in marrying her, on the condition that she obeys him and follows his “rules.”

“Aliniambia niko tayari kukuoa bora utatii sheria zangu,” she recounted. “Akaniambia nitengeneze video, akaniambia atanipa elfu ishirini. Nilimwambia ni ngumu kwangu lakini wakati huo nilihitaji pesa ya karo ya watoto wangu.”

Desperate to pay school fees for her children, she eventually gave in and sent the videos. The man sent her the Sh20,000; which she now describes as “the beginning of her downfall.”

She says the man later began extorting her, demanding more money and threatening to leak the videos if she refused.

“Alikuwa ananiambia, ‘we ebu nikee elfu mbili hapo, usiponiekea nitakuanika sasa.’ Nikajua sasa huyu mtu hana nia njema,” she said.

Fearing for her safety, she says she changed her phone number and cut contact. But years later, the videos resurfaced online, exposing her to public humiliation and ridicule.

Breaking down during the recording, she begged for forgiveness from Kenyans and her children, who she says have all seen the disturbing videos.

“Naomba watoto wangu wanisamehe juu ni watoto wakubwa na wameona hizo vitu. Naomba msamaha kutoka kwa Wakenya wote. Sitafanya hivyo tena,” she said, sobbing.

She also claimed that a woman named Wambui Tabitha helped rescue her from Meru after she allegedly faced threats to her life from a mob.

“Walinitoa huko Meru nilikuwa karibu niuliwe. Mimi ni mama, sitarudia hili jambo tena,” she pleaded. “Naomba serikali mnisamehe na mnisaidie juu siwezi rudi Meru tena.”