Rapists not scared by law

According to well-documented reports, a huge number of women and girls, conservatively estimated at 1,200, were raped during the 2007/2008 post-election violence, but few of the perpetrators have ever been punished.

Since then, and despite the passage of a stiff law to deter it, instances of rape have not significantly subsided, mainly because the victims are ignorant of their rights, or because the stigma associated with rape is so intense few cases are reported.

Now that we are entering another period of political tension and potential violence, some legislators want to forestall such a calamity.

Speaking during the launch of the International campaign to stop Rape and Gender Violence, nominated MP Rachel Shebesh said women parliamentarians were working to ensure the laws against rape were fully implemented.

In short, the laws and penalties may be in the books, but they have not deterred rapists. The question is why.

Why, for instance, should the Economic Survey 2012 indicate that defilement and rape topped the category of offences against morality even after the passage of the Sexual Offences Act in 2006 which stipulated life sentences for rapists?

Something does not add up here.