Police raped women during post-poll chaos, ex-TJRC official tells court

By LUCIANNE LIMO

Nairobi, Kenya: Former Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) boss Patricia Nyaundi  (right) moved a court when she described how police officers and civilians sexually abused women and men during the post-election violence (PEV) in 2007.

Ms Nyaundi was the first witness to testify in an open court in a suit filed by eight victims of sexual and gender-based violence during PEV, who are seeking compensation from the Government.

The six women and two men will testify but their identities, medical records and documentary evidence will be protected and kept sealed in court to avoid further trauma and stigmatisation.

The Coalition on Violence Against Women, Independent Medico-Legal Unit, International Commission of Jurists, Kenya Chapter and Physicians for Human Rights have sued the Attorney General on behalf of the victims.

Others named in the suit as respondents are Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Inspector General of the National Police Service and Health minister.

The petitioners informed the court that they are victims of rape, sodomy, forced pregnancy, deliberate transmission for HIV and Aids and forcible circumcision.

“Women called me during the post-poll violence and informed me that they had been raped by civilians and others from Kibera slums claimed police officers had raped them,” said Nyaundi.

She painted a grim picture of how the women who were raped could neither access medical assistance nor report the crime meted against them by the police as they were the perpetrators.

“The victims will show the court how, as a result of sexual violence, they have contracted HIV, suffered permanent damage in their genitals, desertation by spouse, which is a violation to their right of protection,” said Nyaundi.

She told Justice Isaac Lenaola that the victims have suffered double tragedy as the Government has failed to offer them compensation.