Violence against women is widespread in Kenya. Every day, women are physically and sexually abused. Rape occurs in all social and ethnic groups. It is a crime that shocks and traumatizes the victim, and undermines the status of women in society. Yet it is largely suffered in silence.
Victims of rape often face insurmountable obstacles in trying to bring the perpetrators to justice. Many women who have suffered rape or other forms of abuse are too intimidated by cultural attitudes and state inaction to seek redress. To do so can lead to hostility from family, the community and the police, with little hope of success. Those who do seek justice are confronted by a system that ignores, denies and even condones violence against women, and protects perpetrators, whether they are state officials or private individuals.
Yet, despite its moral and legal obligations, the government has not reformed Kenya's laws to make all acts of violence against women criminal offences, nor has it addressed the discriminatory practices of the police force, prisons services and court system.
Police statistics over the years have shown an increase in the number of reported rapes; 515 in 1990 and 1,675 in 2000.(3) These figures are likely to reflect an under-reporting of rape and not its actual incidence. Local women's groups believe that the true figures are much higher.
Source: Amnesty International http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAFR320012002?OpenDocument&of=THEMES%5CWOMEN
