This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On a fateful day, Richard and his wife Lucy walked into a consultation room with a third party, Jessica, who was visibly distraught. Jessica's red and wet eyes told a story of a deep emotional pain. Richard's request for mediation was met with a surprising response from his wife: 'I already forgave you, my only condition was that you marry her, let her be your second wife, the poor woman has no place to go.'
As it turned out, Jessica was a 37-year-old widow who had been working as a house manager for Richard and Lucy. Her pregnancy, which was confirmed to be two months along, was a result of Richard's coercive behavior. He had been sneaking into her room at odd hours, forcing her to have sex, despite her protests. This had been happening since the lockdown to control COVID-19 was declared.
Lucy's confirmation that their intimacy frequency had actually increased during this time only added to the gravity of the situation. Richard's shame was palpable as he struggled to find words to express his regret.
It emerged that Richard had lost his only source of income when his fast-food restaurant was forced to close down due to COVID-19 restrictions. He had defaulted on his bank loan in April, fearing that his house, which he had offered as collateral, could be auctioned. In a desperate attempt to cope with his stress, Richard had turned to sex as a means of escape.
However, as the counselor pointed out, stress can never be used as a justification for sexual offenses. The consequences of such behavior can be devastating, including the risk of contracting HIV and other STIs. In this time of COVID-19, there has been an escalation of rape, incest, and unwanted pregnancies.
After a long session of counseling, a solution was reached. Richard would pay Jessica a consolidated sum of Sh150,000 to cater for her rent and upkeep during her pregnancy. He would also pay hospital bills for delivery and an additional Sh100,000 to cover expenses for four months after the baby was born. Richard and Lucy would adopt the baby, and Jessica would be free to move on with her life, with the option to take legal action if she chose to do so.
