This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
Published on October 25, 2019, a centre in Mombasa receives 50 to 60 rape cases a month, with three-quarters of these cases reported late.
According to Mwinyi, a nurse at the centre, it is crucial to report cases early to prevent unwanted pregnancies and HIV infections.
She emphasized that the community needs to be educated on the importance of early reporting, as many cases are not reported due to a lack of awareness.
GBVRC, a partnership between Coast Provincial General Hospital and the International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya, encourages early reporting and provides support to victims.
Interestingly, men are also victims of rape, but many remain silent, with only a few cases reported.
Mwinyi noted that parents often do not view sodomy as defilement, especially when the victim is a girl, leading to a lack of reporting.
She shared a disturbing example of how parents ask about the victim's private parts, only to relax when told they are safe, despite the child having been sodomized.
It is essential to address this issue and provide education to the community to prevent such cases from occurring.
