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.
But Africa UNITE insists, if they were to be taken seriously, “MYSA must take immediate remedial action against the perpetrators including initiating criminal prosecutions.”
Meanwhile Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has described allegations of sexual harassment, age and identity falsification levelled against MYSA as “deeply perturbing” and now want a full disclosure from the organisation.
A Norwegian organisation, Strømme Foundation, raised the red flag following a damning report prepared by Diane Huffman, Alice Wainaina, Prof Marion Mutungi and Jacqueline Muthee, which MYSA has since contested.
FKF Chairman Sam Nyamweya in a statement said: “We have been bombarded with queries from many concerned parties who want to know the truth over these allegations.”
vulnerable group
To answer them, Nyamweya said: “We kindly request for your (MYSA) official document detail regarding the issue to enable us act on this matter.”
FKF, who have also written to Strømme Foundation asking for their report, said the allegations are serious considering the players are from a vulnerable group living in slums.
Last week, a former beneficiary of Mysa programmes visited Standard Group Centre along Mombasa road asking the media to help stop unethical practices at the organisation insisting many children feared to speak up for fear of reprisal.
Mysa CEO David Thiru confirmed they had received the letter from FKF and would reply to it. “We will co-operate with whoever wants more information afterall as Mysa we don’t have anything to hide.
“We do things above board and for the record, it should not be construed as if Mysa is the offending group,” Thiru said.
