Leaders decry cases of violence against women during post-election protests

Esther Passaris

Police were on Tuesday accused of rape and sexual harassment in their security operation in the wake of post-election protests.

Women lobby groups gave the acting CS for Interior and Coordination of National Government, Fred Matiang’i, 48 hours to apologise for the remarks he made last week that no one had died in the operation.

The lobbies under Women for Peace yesterday claimed that scores of women were either raped or sexually harassed by law enforcement officers in Kibera, Mathare, and Kisumu. They did not say the exact number of those affected and explained that the victims were afraid to come out.

Rights of women

County Woman Representative-elect Esther Passaris said the Government should play its constitutional role by protecting the rights of women.

She further said the Government should establish a compensation fund for the affected women, noting that those who suffered assault in the 2007/2008 post-election violence had yet to be compensated.

“We want to speak out against the unwarranted violence. Women are bystanders to the conflict, yet they are exposed to violence.”

Passaris said the police have failed to protect the people, adding that the lobbies would compile a list of the people who have died as a result of violence and forward it to the police spokesperson, Charles Owino. [Paul Thoronjo]