WHY SENATOR CRYSTAL ASIGE OPTED OUT OF VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

This year, Nominated Senator Crystal Asige chose not to partake in Valentine’s Day celebrations.

The outspoken musician-turned-politician shared that this particular Valentine’s Day carries a somber significance for her. She said that the recent instances of violence and murder that undermine the very essence of love.

“This is Valentine’s Day, a time to celebrate Love, romance and relationships, but this year, in the wake of hate crimes and brutal killings of women we have sadly seen love sharply overshadowed by fear, violence and death in Kenya. Why is it that as women, our love and femininity is adorned and sought after by men, yet persecuted and oppressed in equal measure by the very same men? Red used to signify love, but now it has turned into blood,” she said.

She opted to stand in solidarity with women who have fallen victim to femicide, honouring their lives and advocating for justice, “It cannot be ignored that this thing that we seek throughout life, this love, indeed has a dark side and today, I am standing in solidarity with all of the women we have loved and lost to femicide by leading women to wear black, raising a motion in Parliament and hosting a vigil concert in collaboration with grassroots human rights defenders at the University of Nairobi tonight in memory of them.

I will use my art to make a strong statement by releasing a series of Art-ivism images, and a brand new music video encouraging women to turn their scars into empowering stories. Today is ‘Dark Valentines’.”