Radical protest for rape victim Liz kicks off
A protest dubbed “keep off our panties”, pushing for the arrest and prosecution of suspects who violently attacked and gang-raped and a Busia pupil four months ago is currently underway. GRAPHIC/NATION
What you need to know:
- The protesters intend to march to the Jogoo House office of Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to present to him a petition signed by more than a million people globally calling for arrest and prosecution of rape suspects.
- The protesters too, will hang up a washing line of dresses and underwear with campaign messages calling for change in the way police handle rape cases brought to them.
A demonstration in protest of police handling of rape cases is currently underway.
The Nairobi protest march dubbed “keep off our panties,” is organised by Africaunite, an umbrella body of organisations fighting to end violence against women, the Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), African Women’s Communication and Development Network (Femnet), Youth Deliver and Avaaz.
“The organisations have resulted to a radical measure to call for the attention of the State and the need for the State to ensure action in addressing rape and specifically amplify the call for arrest of perpetrators of the gang rape of the 16 year old Liz,’’ said Ms Saida Ali, COVAW’s executive director.
Recent statistics have shown the escalating acts of rape and other forms of violence against women is due in part to the negligent handling of rape cases by the police.
The protesters intend to march to the Jogoo House office of Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to present to him a petition signed by more than a million people globally calling for arrest and prosecution of rape suspects.
A statement from Avaaz announcing the protest march said in part: “The march will begin at Freedom Corner and will see the women hand-in the petition, which has been signed by over 1.2 million people, in large cardboard boxes to the police authorities.”
The activists whose protest march will start at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner also want Administration Police officers in Tingolo who released three suspects and mishandled the girl’s case when it was reported on June 27, be punished.
The protesters too, will hang up a washing line of dresses and underwear with campaign messages calling for change in the way police handle rape cases brought to them.
