Kenya: Report Shows 600 Women Raped Daily

East African Standard (Nairobi)

29 October 2007

Edith Fortunate

Nairobi

More than 600 females are raped daily, a new report shows.

The report, compiled by Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), indicates that the youngest rape survivor is five-months-old while the oldest is 86.

The statistics, which have been compiled in hospitals and community-based organisations where the victims go for treatment and counselling, approximate that there are at least 16,482 rape cases every year.

Reported cases of assault and battery in the country have also increased from 6,255 to 9,169 while a third of adolescent girls’ first sexual experience is coerced, Health Policy Initiative Kenya adds.

The girls, who end up married at a tender age, report of power inequality in these relationships.

The risk of violence and sexual abuse is high among girls who are orphaned by Aids, many of whom face a heightened sense of hopelessness.

Most of the reported cases of rape are coupled with severe physical injury like excessive bleeding, strangulation and swollen faces.

The report also shows that incest contributes to the high number of rape victims while minors between the ages of one month to eight years are the highest targets. These cases are still rampant despite implementation of the Sexual Offences Act.

Of the 717 reported sexual abuse cases, 43.5 per cent involved are girls between the ages of one month to four years, while 33.2 per cent are aged between five and eight. (more…)