This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
On a fateful night in May 2006, Betha Akoth's life took a devastating turn. The 32-year-old freelance community health officer was expecting her first child and had just celebrated the discharge of her husband, John Wanyama, from hospital after a road accident.
As she peeped outside through the bedroom window, she saw a hooded man jump over the walls, break the padlock, and let in 15 people. Despite her efforts to lock the door to the main bedroom, the assailants broke through to the guest room and shattered the glass in the children's bedroom.
With her children's safety at stake, Akoth reluctantly opened the door, allowing the criminals to enter. They demanded money, but Akoth had only Sh4,000, which infuriated them. The situation turned violent, and Akoth was assaulted, kicked, and whipped.
One of the hooded men ordered her to the bedroom where her husband lay, and their leader threatened to kill him unless she cooperated. Akoth pleaded with them to spare her, citing her pregnancy, but they mocked her, saying even pregnant women have intercourse.
Forced onto the bed next to her husband, Akoth was subjected to a brutal gang rape, with the assailants taking turns. She bled, but they did not stop, and her ordeal lasted for about an hour.
Despite her cries for help, no one came to assist her, and her husband remained shocked and silent until 5 am. The aftermath of the attack left Akoth with nightmares, and she struggled to sleep for years.
Her life changed in 2012 when she met other rape survivors, and she began campaigns against sexual and gender-based violence with institutions like USAID and the National Aids Control Council. This year, she finally opened up about her ordeal, condemning parents who opt for out-of-court settlements with rapists and advocating for better sexual violence handling procedures.
