Politics
When police were the rapists
Police officers guard the Nakuru-Naivasha highway which had been blocked by bands of youths protesting at the killings in the North Rift Valley at the height of the post election violence. Photo/ FILE
Posted Wednesday, October 15 2008 at 19:51
The report says if police do not act decisively in the face of allegations against their own, then any credibility they may have in this area of sexual violence is greatly undermined.
There was a report of women victims being taken into a police station and cared for by the female police officers. Despite this compassionate response, no statement was taken from the victims or investigation commenced.
The report appreciates that up to 100 rape victims treated at Nairobi Women’s Hospital were taken there by police.
But it was only shortly before the hospital’s CEO Dr Thenya testified before the commission on July 15, 2008, that police visited the hospital seeking medical records.
The commission says reporting of sexual violence is only one step in the process. There needs to be a strong investigative response and there was little evidence of this approach being taken during the post-election violence.
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