I Used To Feel Ashamed – 34-year-old Female Conductor With Beards

Published

5 years ago

February 9, 2020

Women are generally known to spot hairless faces when it comes to facial hair but 34-year-old Theresia Mumbi does not enjoy this.

The Nairobi based mother of one who works as a matatu conductor (matatus are privately owned minibuses) recently opened up on the struggles of having a beard in an interview with BBC.

In her chat with the BBC, she disclosed that she has had a lot of hair since her school days.

“I saw having a lot of hair as a normal thing and it didn’t bother me that much,” she said.

At first, she tried shaving off her facial hair when she noticed it was growing but this only made the beard grow back faster so she decided to stop shaving it altogether.

“I found it hard hiding my facial hair by shaving every time. I grew tired and decided to stop shaving altogether.”

Her decision, however, was met with ridicule, stares, and name-calling.

She further reveals that she started job hunting in 2005 after she completed her high school and got a job working as a waitress in a city hotel at the time.

Theresia-Mumbi-NairobiWire-

Things were easy for her at work as the customers were used to her beard but the story was not the same once she stepped outside her workplace. She usually encountered ridicule.

“When at homHO, I never left the house during the day. I would wait till dark to go to shops to buy food. Even though I had no issues at work, I used to feel ashamed of my neighbours gossiping about my beard,” said Mumbi.

She also narrated an unforgettable encounter she had at the hands of police while working as a matatu tout.

After failing to pay Sh400 bribe to the cops, she was arrested and locked up with other female remandees. However, a policewoman started questioning her gender and ordered her to strip.

“We are not sure about your gender and we suspect that you might be a man, so we would like to frisk you to ascertain your gender,” Mumbi was told.

This experience she said made her question God on why she was created with a beard. The ridicule has also given her suicidal thoughts but she says her 7-year-old son gave her a reason to live.

Mumbi reveals that at a point, she decided to seek medical help for her condition and was informed that it was caused by hormonal imbalance.

(Nairobi Wire Via Guardian)

PHOTO: File

JUST IN: UNIBEN Students Trapped as Three-storey Building collapses

Published

1 day ago

September 14, 2024

Editor

Several students of the University of Benin have been trapped in a three-storey building that collapsed in Ekosodin, an off-campus community dominated by students of the University.

The collapse could be attributed to a heavy downpour that started in the early hours of Saturday which fell till about 10 am.

A staff of the University said: “The incident happened earlier morning on Saturday. We were on duty when we got the call and we are on the scene, some people have been rescued others are still trapped, we are calling for more hands to ensure that the occupants are rescued. I am still at the scene.”

The university management has yet to release an official statement to that effect.

Metro

JUST IN: Gunmen Kidnap Rivers Monarch’s Police Orderly, Driver

Published

1 day ago

September 14, 2024

Editor

Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped a police orderly and driver working with a respected royal father in Rivers State.

The victims were abducted on Saturday at the residence of the monarch, His Royal Highness(HRH) Chief Cornwell Ihunwo around Eagle Island.

It was learned that Ihunwo is the paramount ruler of Rumu-Elechi community in Nkpolu-Orowurokwo, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.

An Executive member of Diobu Vigilante and Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu-Orowurokwo Godstime Ihunwo, who confirmed said the incident happened around 8pm.

Godstime alleged that the intent of the kidnap was the traditional ruler, condemning the move to abduct the community leader.

He said, “I received a call about abduction of HRH Cornwell Ihunwo about 9pm on Saturday 22ndJune,2024. I rushed down to his house at Eagle Island where I met him. Chief Cornwell told me it is his driver and Police orderly who were abducted.

“We condemn the planned abduction of HRH Cornwell Ihunwo and call on the Police to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.”

However, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Metro

Soldiers Allegedly Torture Poly Student To Death Over Allegation Of Cultism

Published

2 days ago

September 14, 2024

Editor

Terhile Timothy Achinya, a mechanical engineering student with the Isa Mustapha Agwai l Polytechnic Lafia, was allegedly beaten to death by yet-to-be-identified military men.

The news of the death of Achinya has sparked outrage within and around the Polytechnic community, however, the Acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata has called for calm.

The Students Union Government, President of the Isa Mustapha Agwai l Polytechnic Lafia, Comr. Jacob John Mutuwa narrated the situation leading to the death of the student.

“It all started when a student named Samuel Ejembi informed some military men in Lafia of some students who are alleged to be involved in cult activities. the soldiers searched and picked up some of the accused students at Eji World, an entertainment centre opposite the Poly campus.”

The president explained that both the informant and the accused were picked up and taken into custody by the military on Friday last week.

Mutuwa disclosed however that Achinya died while undergoing interrogations and torture by the military men and the corpse was deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

Mutuwa expressed sadness over the unfortunate death, lamenting that if the management of the institution had allowed students to use the student accommodation built by former governor Tanko Almakura, things like this would not have occurred.

The Union president commended the students for taking a calm position despite the tragic death of a fellow student.

He assured that legal action had been instituted against the killers and called for calm.

Also reacting, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for prompt action to bring the perpetrators to book.

Coordinator, NANS Zone C, Comr. Daniel Friday Egga appreciated the action taken by the Management and SUG Leadership of the institution in addressing the matter.

Daniel called on the government and well-meaning individuals to join hands in seeking justice for the victim and his family.

NANS, however, alleged that the soldiers who were attached to the 123 Special Force Battalion were the ones responsible for the killing and urged military authorities to take immediate action.