Act on sex pests

By Robin Toskin

Africa UNITE Kenya Ambassador, Ann Njogu, has condemned allegations of sexual exploitation of young girls at Mathare Youth Sports Association and promised to act.

“As the UNITE Kenya Ambassador, I shall take all and any further action against MYSA and any institution found to be wanting in this regard,” Njogu said through a statement.

Since the revelations came to light, Mysa which maintains they have strict polices to deal with such cases, have admitted there had been incidences and dealt with them at the time by expelling the offenders.

Njogu, a winner of International Women of Courage (IWOC) award initiated by the US State Department said, if the allegations are true, “It is not only unlawful, but unacceptable and a huge violation of the girls rights to play in a safe environment.”

On Saturday Football Kenya Federation (FKF) women’s representative Councillor Rachel Kamweru called on the Government to investigate the allegations saying the girls may be suffering in silence.

pulled aside

And on Monday, Africa UNITE’s Njogu warned girls were suffering especially in male dominated sports.

“It is a fact that female athletes and sports participants are subject to influence and control of predominantly male coaches, teachers, managers and officials and they are under constant threat of rape, defilement, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation,” she said. 

Njogu said Mysa is under obligation to take all possible action against the perpetrators of the abuse and or exploitation to avert, “perceptions of men’s dominance, physical strength and power, which are traditionally portrayed in male sport.”

To its credit, MYSA, a celebrated organisation working with the underprivileged in Mathare slums of Nairobi since 1987, has developed strict policies to deal with reported cases.

Mysa also has developed with Stanford University the Nishauri Project, a mobile-based confidential reporting and counselling service not only for its members,but for all youth inMathare and neighbouring slums.

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