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The rape of a 13-year-old girl by 10 men recently is a revelation of the high level of impunity in our society. The minor was attacked by a gang calling itself “Jesus”.
In the past three years, 385 rape victims were reportedly treated at Kenyatta National Hospital, 35 of them men while the women suffered the greatest.
Only a few cases of sexual violence are reported since most victims shy away from speaking out for fear of the assaulters.
Evils such as mass rape, gang rape, which involves more than two perpetrators; rape with objects, including dirty objects inserted into the genitals; forced nudity; anal and vaginal sexual assault; and beatings on genitals are rife in the society.
A case in which a woman was sexually assaulted in broad daylight in Nairobi’s city centre — as onlookers cheered on the perpetrator and recorded the evil act on video — is mockery to the social values. The victim’s cries for help fell on deaf ears.
Also recently, some men took a video of a person being sexually assaulted in a vehicle.
According to a report by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, 35 percent of women have suffered physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner at one point. Other studies however show it could be as high as 70 percent.
About 120 million women have faced forced intercourse and related forced sexual activities from husbands, partners, boyfriends and, mostly, other perpetrators.
The law on sexual offences stipulates that a person guilty of raping or attempting to sexually assault someone is liable to a jail term of not less than five years, which may be enhanced to life imprisonment.
But despite such tough laws, ineffectiveness by the authorities mandated to curb the vice has helped it to thrive.
What has greatly contributed to the increase of rape cases is that rapists mostly go unpunished and many continue with the evil.
In 2015, the rape rate for Kenya was 1.9 cases per 100,000 people. And although it fluctuated substantially in recent years, it decrease through the 2006-2015 period, ending at 1.9 in 2015.
Misogyny, which feeds on a sense of entitlement by men that legitimises sexual harassment and, sometimes, violence, contributes to immorality.
Human Rights Watch expressed its concern over the Kenyan authorities’ failure to prevent election-related sexual violence, properly investigate cases, hold perpetrators accountable and ensure survivors have access to comprehensive, quality and timely post-rape care.
The society is to blame for allowing the evil to continue as victims of sexual violence are intimidated and offenders given a slap on the wrist.
The war on sexual violence should not only be fought legally but initiatives must be taken to educate the society about morals.
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