Unrest in Kenya Triggers Sexual Violence Against Women and Children

Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai has an excellent piece in the Guardian (UK) about the history of the current crisis in Kenya. But while she calls for peace, there is no specific mention of the increased violence against women that has accompanied the unrest that is taking place. As IRIN reports however, Kenyan women and children are being specifically targeted for sexual violence,

“The Nairobi Women’s Hospital said it had on 31 December received 19 rape cases, almost double the daily average.

Violence erupted mostly in the slums of Nairobi and other areas soon after the Electoral Commission of Kenya announced that incumbent President Mwai Kibaki had won the poll, beating his opposition rival challenger Raila Odinga, who immediately rejected the result citing alleged rigging of the poll in Kibaki’s favour.

“It looked like it was mainly systematic gang rapes,” said Sam Thenya, the chief executive officer of the hospital.”

and in addition,

“An unknown number of women and girls were also reportedly gang-raped in Mathare, Korogocho, Dandora, Kawangware and Kibera slums, while several men were sodomised in one of the ugly scenes of post-election violence.”

The extreme level of violence targeting women and children prompted the World YWCA and the YWCA of Kenya to issue this statement addressing the issue,

“The World YWCA and YWCA of Kenya expresses its solidarity with Kenyan women and their families in the face of the pain and suffering as a result of Kenya’s violence and insecurity following the country’s January 27, 2007 elections. The killings, beatings and burnings continue to bring loss, suffering and fear, especially to women and children. The YWCA Movement joins the Kenyan people, the World Council of Churches, and other international organizations in their call for peace with justice, while protecting the rights of women and children, especially from sexual violence.

Over 100,000 people have been affected or displaced countrywide according to the Kenya Red Cross. The YWCA of Kenya is responding to the crisis by offering its facilities in Mombasa, Siaya and Kisumu to provide shelter to vulnerable women and girls affected by the crisis including elderly women, pregnant and lactating mothers.”