65 women, 3 men, 3 children experienced sexual violence during 2017 elections

A woman flees from Police water canon after dispersing Nasa Supporters who were going to JKIA to welcome Nasa leader Raila Odinga who was jetting back from USA on 17/11/17- [Beverlyne Musili,Standard]

During the violence that followed the announcement of the August 8 presidential election results, 65 women, three men and three children were sexually violated by police, according to Human Rights Watch.

After months of suffering in silence, some of the women shared their harrowing tales with The Standard.

They said it was sad that very people entrusted with the mandate of protecting city residents and their property turned to be Nairobians' worst nightmare.

“They (police) were saying, ‘come out now and throw stones'. I heard women crying, saying, ‘don’t rape me'. Three came to my house, beat me and raped me,” Josephine Anyango (not her real name) told Metropolitan.

She continued: “It was the Saturday after Uhuru was announced the winner. There were gunshots all over. Teargas filled the air. They broke the gate to our plot. They were many men dressed in uniform—jungle green with brown spots. They randomly beat people. Men were crying like children in our plot.”

Anyango is not alone.

Many women and men who experienced sexual abuse from police during the 2017 post-election violence chose to remain silent for fear of either stigma or their safety.

Mercy Maina told Human Rights Watch that she was raped by police during the 2007-2008 post election violence together with her friend, Irene Mukami, who later committed suicide because of trauma.

Ms Maina became pregnant and is now raising her daughter, about whom she says: “It took the grace of God to accept her.”

She has stomach ulcers which she links to the stress of that rape.

She had barely dealt with the trauma when the men in blue struck again this year. This time, she and her sister, Martha Maina, were raped by policemen who wore helmets, and carried guns and walkie-talkies.

Mercy and her sister went to a medical facility for post-rape treatment two weeks later for fear that their tormentors could come back to try and cover their tracks. They, like many others, did not report the sex assault to the authorities.

Sleeping pills

“I did not go to the police because... we were told by police, ‘you cannot report the Government to the Government,” she said.

She has struggled mentally since the latest rape and has turned to drinking.

“You have to drink (to get some) sleep. I used to take piriton (sleeping pills), but they gave me acidity. So now I drink (alcohol). I have to drink every day,” she said.

Agnes Odhiambo, a senior women’s rights researcher at HRW, told The Standard about half of the women interviewed said they were raped by policemen or men in uniform. Some said they were attacked by men in uniform with beards and dreadlocks, she added. Others were raped by civilians.

According to the report, many attacks were accompanied by torture and physical violence, and some attackers subdued their victims with verbal threats or using guns or knives. Attackers also assaulted children and men.

“Joyce Nduta, 27, delivered her third baby on August 7. On August 11 she was raped by three policemen whom she said wore green uniforms and carried guns,” said Ms Odhiambo.

HRW also documented three cases of sexual assault against men, saying they heard credible reports of more sexual violence against men.

“Doris told us about the rape of her male neighbour but doubted that he sought treatment or reported the matter anywhere. Another victim also said she was raped together with her boyfriend by three men who wore dreadlocks. Her boyfriend was too embarrassed to seek medical help,” said Odhiambo. About half of the cases documented by HRW were gang rapes.

“We documented various cases of rape including gang rape involving two or more perpetrators, mass rape, attempted rape, rape with an object, putting dirt into a woman’s private parts, unwanted sexual touching, forced nudity, and beatings on genitals, including by members of Kenya’s security forces and militia groups and civilians,” said Odhiambo.