Popular preacher Elizabeth Mokoro has ignited significant discussion following pointed remarks directed at married women who accept compliments perceived as flirtatious from men. Delivered during a recent sermon, her message strongly criticized women who respond positively to such attention, arguing it fundamentally undermines the boundaries of marriage.
Mokoro specifically highlighted scenarios where a married woman might be told she has “a nice bust” and responds with a smile and a thank you. She contended that this type of interaction is unacceptable for those committed to marital fidelity. Her critique extended to the workplace, which she identified as a common environment for inappropriate comments, often exchanged between married individuals themselves. She referenced phrases like “Na umebeba hapo nyuma” (loosely translating to comments about one’s figure) as examples of the “games” played in office settings.
Her proposed solution was notably confrontational. Mokoro urged women to take radical action against men making such advances, suggesting they should “slap them” and then face being summoned to explain their actions to their boss. In that setting, she implied, the woman could then share the inappropriate remark that provoked the physical response. This call for assertive, even physical, rejection framed her stance as one demanding absolute intolerance for behavior she views as disrespectful to marriage vows.
Unsurprisingly, Mokoro’s uncompromising advice generated sharply divided reactions online. Some individuals expressed strong agreement with her perspective, applauding her directness and the perceived truth in her message. Comments like “She’s right, I love her” captured this supportive sentiment. Others, however, questioned the practicality and potential consequences of her advice. One skeptical viewpoint imagined a boss simply laughing off such a complaint if brought forward, while another wondered how women should navigate situations where their own husbands fail to offer appreciation.
Criticism also emerged regarding the focus of contemporary preaching, with one comment suggesting an overemphasis on bodily matters. More pointed detractors accused Mokoro of jealousy or dismissed the tone of her sermon as inappropriate for a church setting, likening it more to a confrontational comedy show.
This incident is consistent with Mokoro’s established reputation for delivering blunt, often controversial pronouncements on family and social life. She has previously challenged conventional norms, such as publicly questioning the necessity of elaborate white weddings. On that topic, she advocated for simplicity, suggesting couples could simply walk into a church with their witnesses, receive a solid sermon, and be married by an authorized pastor within 45 minutes, bypassing traditional ceremonies.
Her latest comments on marital boundaries and the appropriate response to perceived flirtation, particularly her endorsement of physical retaliation in the workplace, have once again positioned her at the center of a heated public debate about gender dynamics, marital respect, and appropriate conduct in social and professional spaces. The core of her message remains a call for married women to actively shut down any form of attention from other men that crosses into what she defines as flirtation, advocating for unambiguous and forceful rejection.
