Raped by police: How women suffered during 2017 presidential polls

A report by the Kenya National Comission on Human Rights (KNHCR) has exposed the country’s law enforcement officers citing them for sexually violating women during the entirety of the bitterly contested 2017 presidential polls.

The report released on November 28, dubbed Silhouettes of Brutality lays bare how security agents blatantly violated women sexually and assaulted their children as civil order was disrupted over disputes that arose after the announcement of the presidential results of the August 8 and the repeat presidential election.

KNHCR in the report says that the brazen sexual assaults first reached alarming levels on August 11, 2017 shortly after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Comission (IEBC) announced the presidential results of the August 8 general election.

“The commission’s hotline number 0800 720 627, which had been publicised for citizens to share human rights concerns rang off-the-hook. Members of the public from different parts of Kenya especially from Nairobi, Nyanza and Western regions made distress calls as protests broke out in the dark of night. Women were calling to seek help as protesters and security agents targeted them sexually violating them and their children,” reads the report.

Consequently, the commission concerned by the high number of distress calls embarked on separately documenting rape, defilement and sodomy cases reported particularly by women who sought to be rescued from their homes that were marooned in violent eruptions as security agents engaged protestors in running battles.

Further, the commission says that the trend continued in the days and weeks preceding October 26, 2017, the date of the repeat presidential poll.

READ: WHY JIMMY WANJIGI WANTS SH100 MILLION FROM NATION MEDIA

“What started as a few cases of varied sexual violations grew into a total of the 201 cases as documented in this report that emanated from the 2017 electoral violence. KNCHR is cognisant of the probability of many sexual violence cases out there that remain unreported to date,” further reads the report.

The commission however notes that the 201 cases of sexual violence is not an actual reflection of what might have happened but rather is a statistic of the number of people who contacted KNHCR reporting that their human rights had been violated.

“The most affected were women at 96.26% while men were at 3.74%. Demoralisingly, older persons were not spared with the eldest survivors being a 70-years-old female and a 68-years-old male who were violated. The innocence and decency of young children was thrown out of the window with as young as seven (7) years old having to face the brutality and callousness of men who chose to defy nature and pounce on helpless members of society,” reads the report.

SEE ALSO: HOW TO AVOID BEING CONNED WHILE BUYING LAND IN KENYA

According to the report, most of the people who were violated most at times slept peacefully thinking that the agents within their precincts would protect them.

“The violated persons described the attackers as having been dressed in security regalia that is the jungle green uniform type. They could also describe AK47 guns and some teargas canisters that were carried by the attackers,” reads the report.

Latest

In Race for African Leadership Award, Ruto Faces Tough Opposition

Among the contenders of the prestigious African of the Year award is Kenya’s President William Ruto, who will be battling it out with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, President of Afrexim Bank.

Transforming Financial Inclusion: The Impact of M-Pesa in Kenya and Beyond 

Discover the profound impact of M-Pesa on financial inclusion in Kenya and beyond. Explore how this innovative mobile service revolutionizes transactions and shapes the future of finance globally.

All You Need To Know About Vaping

Vaping, the act of inhaling vapour produced by an...

A Look at New Generation Ford Vehicle Models Trending in Kenya

The new partnership between Ford and Caetano offers the brand an opportunity to gain market share in Kenya by leveraging on Caetano’s extensive network and experience.

Follow Us

Newsletter

Don't miss

Safaricom To Power Tusker OktobaFest Beer Festival

Safaricom’s involvement in OktobaFest as a technology and payments partner will focus on fostering seamless in-festival connectivity, empowering the youth and Gen Z community through Safaricom Hook, and powering digital payments through M-PESA.

Music Producers Launch Organization To Streamline Recording Industry

Recording Industry of Kenya (RIKE) was launched on 9th October 2023. Registered in 2022 as a not-for-profit organization, RIKE aims to promote the collective interests of producers of sound recordings in the country.

Nairobi’s Hero Bar Listed Among World’s 50 Best Bars

World Best Bars: Hero Bar in Nairobi continues to climb the list, moving up six places to No.62 and Johannesburg’s Sin + Tax comes in at No.94. Dubai new entry Ergo is at No.69 and Melbourne’s Byrdi has re-entered the list at No.61.

Kenyan DJs Face Off In Smirnoff Battle Of The Beats Season 3

The Smirnoff Battle of the Beats Season 3, a DJ competition, is poised to unleash an unprecedented musical frenzy countrywide.

The Highs And Lows Of Betty Kyallo, Sisters Show As Season 2 Ends

Kyallo Kulture has always been, above all, about sisterhood, and in Season 2 we have witnessed the charm of it - the ups that gave us wholesome moments as the sisters led by Betty Kyallo spent time together.

DStv Beats CNN, BBC To Become Most Admired Media Outlet In Africa

DStv, MultiChoice Group’s leading broadcast service, has been named...

MultiChoice Revises Subscription Fees For DStv, GOtv

MultiChoice has announced price adjustments on some of their...

Octopizzo: How I Make My Money

"I've been doing this for 12, 13 years. It reaches a point where you no longer need to prove that you can make a hit record," he stated.

New Spotify EQUAL Artist Qing Madi Talks Music and Dreams

Heavily influenced by her cultural background and the lyrical arrangements of Kendrick Lamar, the versatile Nigerian prodigy is shaping the future of music with her unique genre-bending fusion of Afrobeats, Pop, Soul and R&B.

Bob Collymore Immortalized in New Festival

The late Collymore was famous for his love for jazz and even initiated the Safaricom Jazz Festival, which saw several of the world's biggest Jazz artists perform in Nairobi.

In Race for African Leadership Award, Ruto Faces Tough Opposition

Among the contenders of the prestigious African of the Year award is Kenya’s President William Ruto, who will be battling it out with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, President of Afrexim Bank.

Transforming Financial Inclusion: The Impact of M-Pesa in Kenya and Beyond 

Discover the profound impact of M-Pesa on financial inclusion in Kenya and beyond. Explore how this innovative mobile service revolutionizes transactions and shapes the future of finance globally.

All You Need To Know About Vaping

Vaping, the act of inhaling vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device, has a relatively short history compared to traditional tobacco smoking. The...

5 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here