Nairobi woman strips naked, dances in traffic as Sonko raises mental health alarm

Motorists and pedestrians along the busy Thika Road were left stunned on Thursday after a woman was spotted naked on top of a car in the middle of traffic, sparking concern, confusion and heated debate online.

In videos that quickly went viral, traffic police officers and concerned members of the public are seen trying to coax the woman down as vehicles slowed to a crawl.

At one point, the situation took a disturbing turn when some women in the crowd were captured attempting to cane her in a bid to force her to alight from the vehicle.

The incident caused a brief disruption along the highway as onlookers gathered, with reactions ranging from genuine concern to shock. While a few people attempted to help, many others recorded the unfolding drama on their phones.

Details surrounding the woman’s identity and what may have triggered the incident remain unclear.

However, the bizarre and distressing nature of the episode ignited widespread concern over her mental wellbeing, with many Kenyans urging compassion rather than punishment or ridicule.

Among those who weighed in was former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who strongly condemned the tendency to sensationalise such incidents and instead framed the situation as a possible mental health crisis.

Reacting to the trending footage, Sonko described the scene as “heartbreaking” and warned against treating human suffering as entertainment.

“Depression and mental illness are real,” Sonko wrote on his social media platforms. “What happened today along Thika Road was heartbreaking. A woman in clear distress was seen naked on top of a car as officers and citizens tried to help her.”

He added that the woman’s actions were not normal behaviour but pointed to “a serious mental or emotional crisis,” urging Kenyans to show empathy.

“This was not a moment for filming, mocking, or turning suffering into entertainment,” Sonko said. “Mental health can affect anyone. Today it is her; tomorrow it could be your mother, sister, aunt, wife, or even you.”

Through his Sonko Rescue Team initiative, the former governor offered to step in and assist the woman if needed, drawing parallels to past high-profile cases involving mental illness.

“If this is a case like Conjestina’s, let it be known we are prepared to take it up,” he stated, referencing.

For many, the disturbing scenes on Thika Road served as a sobering reminder that behind viral videos are real people in real pain; and that humanity should always come before cameras.