US official calls for steps to speed up sexual assault cases

Tomika Patterson from the US Department of Justice during the editors' workshop in Mombasa. [Maxwell Agwanda, Standard]

Kenya has been urged to re-consider its policy disallowing plea bargaining for sexual offences, in the best interests of victims.

Tomika Patterson from the US Department of Justice and Shamini Jayanathan from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said ultimately Kenyans themselves will have to make the decision based on their circumstances.