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

Published

4 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

Policeman Shot, Three Arrested Over Land Dispute In Delta

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

Police operatives from the Okpanam Division, in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have arrested three police officers who allegedly encroached and supervised the destruction of the properties in the community.

It was gathered that the property belonged to Ogbeozoma tenants in the land area in a dispute between the Ogbeozoma quarters of Okpanam and Akpoma quarters Issele-Azagba in Aniocha North Local Government Area.

A source, who spoke to The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the press, disclosed that when the people of Ogbeozoma received information that some people were destroying their properties, they mobilised to the site.

He said, “On arrival, they were confronted by the officers, as other people who came with them for the operation, took to their heels.

“In the process, one of the police officers the Ogbeozoma people brought, identified as Inspector Sanni Taiwo, was shot and was rushed to the hospital where he was receiving treatment.

“The arrested officers claimed they were attached to the CTU Base 44, Force Headquarters, Abuja, while the driver of one of the payloaders was also arrested.

“They were sent by a popular hotelier from the South-East origin but based in Asaba.”

As of the time of filing this report, the three officers and the payloader driver had been transferred to the police command headquarters, while the two Hilux vehicles and two payloaders recovered from the site were parked on the premises of Okpanam Police Division.

Items recovered from the suspects, according to our source, included two guns and some live cartridges.

When contacted on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abaniwanda Olufemi, told PUNCH Metro that he was in Abuja for the IG meeting and was yet to be briefed.

Metro

JUST IN: 8 Children Rescued From Accident In Kogi

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

Eight school children have survived a motor accident in Lokoja the Kogi State capital.

An Eyewitness account told DAILY POST that the children are pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School Lokoja.

DAILY POST gathered that the children were returning from school when the sad incident occurred on Thursday at the popular Lokongoma market in Lokoja.

It was further gathered that a heavy-duty truck carrying a container load fell on two small vehicles which trapped the Children.

Through the combined effort of the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other relevant agencies, the children were rescued.

The Kogi State Security Adviser Commodore Jerry Omodara Rtd. who was on ground to ensure the rescue of the school children confirmed this to newsmen on Thursday.

As of 5:17PM, efforts are still in place to ensure that the truck is evacuated from the road to ensure free flow of traffic.

Metro

Church Members Protest, Disown Faction Promoting LGBTQ Rights

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

Hundreds of members of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Gombe State have protested against a factional group accused of promoting LGBTQ rights and regionalization.

The members made the bold stance against the recognition of LGBTQ rights during a protest that took place at the Northern and Central Nigeria Annual Conferences in Gondum village, Shongom local government area of Gombe State.

Protesters, carrying placards rejecting LGBTQ and regionalization, stated their commitment to a unified church and their opposition to what they deem as “unholy acts.”

Yohana Wesley, Resident Bishop of the Nigeria UMC, stated that the factional group’s refusal to adhere to established procedures led to the decision to disown them.

Chipau Kiliyobas, Director of Connectional Ministry of Northern Nigeria UMC Annual Conference, noted that the disagreement over regionalization and LGBTQ issues was the root of the contention between the two groups.

Bishop John Schol, representing the Council of Bishops from the United States, attempted to reconcile the factions and unify all church members.

However, his remarks were met with resistance from the protesters.

Schol clarified that regional decisions on same-sex marriage would be respected, with no imposition from the global church, but the protesters remained steadfast in their opposition to LGBTQ recognition.

The traditional and majority group in the church deem LGBTQ acts as unholy, and their protest stated their strong stance against any recognition of such rights within the church community.