This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
Rape Remains Rampant in Kenya Despite Government Efforts ¶
As Kenya joins the world in marking International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, rape remains a significant concern in the country. According to various organisations, rape is rampant in Kenya, with efforts by the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to eradicate it yet to yield significant results.
Statistics from the World Data Atlas show that in 2015, the rate of rape in Kenya was 1.9 cases per 100,000 population. The Gender-Based Violence in Kenya report by the National Crime Research Centre, released in 2014, highlights Kilifi County as having the highest rape rates in the country, at 97.9 per cent, compared to Samburu, which had the lowest rape rate of 7.9 per cent.
The top five rape rates came from the counties of Kilifi (97.9 per cent), Kisii (85.7 per cent), Machakos (71.4 per cent), Mombasa (66.7 per cent), and Nairobi (64.9 per cent). The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014 indicates that 14 per cent of women and 6 per cent of men aged between 15-49 reported experiencing sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
Chief Justice David Maraga noted that since the first case of coronavirus was reported in Kenya on March 13, sexual offences have constituted 35.8 per cent of all recorded cases. Kenya Female Advisory Organisation (Kefeado) figures show that many victims of sexual violence fail to get justice after reporting rape and defilement past the required 72 hours.
Ms Easter Okech, Executive Director of Kefeado, says that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has largely been ignored, making it hard to eradicate. She suggests that gender-based recovery centres should be set up in all Level Three to Level Six hospitals across the country to help victims and survivors of sexual violence seek help.
Ms Wairimu Munyinyi-Wahome, Director of Coalition on Violence Against Women-Kenya, says that rape has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic was confirmed in the country. She notes that relatives, neighbours, and unknown people were the majority perpetrators of rape. Delayed justice is the greatest challenge facing victims of rape and other sexual violence today, she adds.
Ms Munyinyi-Wahome suggests that the Judiciary should consider establishing special courts to deal with SGBV cases to expedite the cases and enhance justice for the victims. She also notes that her organisation has come up with a hotline for girls and women in danger to seek help, as well as a scheme for pro bono lawyers who support and help victims to file cases in courts.
Police have also been accused of being leading perpetrators of sexual abuses. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) report titled 'Silhouettes of Brutality' exposed police brutality as perpetrators of sexual violence especially during political unrest. The report focused on post-election violations largely experienced following the announcement of the first Presidential results on August 11, 2017, and the ensuing months prior to and after the rerun on October 26, 2017.
Ms Christine Alai, a human rights lawyer, says that data on sexual violence is difficult to find since there is no system in place to track the same. She notes that the biggest challenge is that the majority of cases are never reported to formal systems like hospitals, police stations, and courts due to stigma.
Ms Alai suggests that a national policy by the government to change the mindset about sexual violence is another way to help tame the vice. She notes that the policy should address changing the mindset that rape is unacceptable and have an education system and syllabus that will help shift how we're socialised.
