Over the recent past, the social media has been awash with cases of men and women sharing painful encounters of their vital documents being destroyed by jilted spouses or partners after fights or disagreements. The process of acquiring such documents; IDs, Passports, Title Deeds, Academic Documents, Business Documents, Log Books, Licences, Marriage Certificates, ATM Cards etcetera, can be so complex and costly.  The adverse impact of this upon the victims’ mental health and economic stability can be so deep. Many have lost jobs, contracts, business opportunities, and even property. Others have spent huge sums of money, and time in a bid to either repair or replace the damaged documents, in vain. There are some who’ve taken matters into their own hands and ventured in terrible retaliatory acts.

In every society, laws serve the purpose of protecting and ensuring the general safety, and rights of citizens against abuses by other people, organizations, and the government. As it stands, there is no law in place criminalizing these awful acts in Kenya. Many who’ve committed such wrongdoings have walked away without any substantial prosecution. With no protective measures in place still, such cases are only bound to increase.

This petition therefore, intends to seek the government’s attention in regard to the protection of all citizens (male or female) from this cruel trend.  It is critical that the Parliament institutes a law to criminalize such acts, and protect the masses from such heartless people. No one should have the audacity to destroy, confiscate or hide another person’s vital documents deliberately.  Any deliberate destruction, confiscation or hiding of another person’s vital document(s) without their justifiable written consent should be punishable just like other heinous crimes such as the defilement of a minor or murder.