150 children ‘raped in two months’
Woman Rep Mishi Mboko (third right) with Muhuri official Rukia Rashid (right) and other women leaders in Mombasa on February 24, 2015. The women heard that child rape was rife in the region. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- “It is worrying because the numbers have increased from last year. We have recorded 156 cases in the past two months,” said Ms Bakari.
She said despite regular arrests, most perpetrators evaded jail for lack of evidence. - “Lazy parents who send children to the shops unescorted or to beg money on the streets also expose them,” she added.
- Kenya Women Holding Chief Executive Jennifer Riria said there should be at least 30 per cent women representation in the national and county governments.
More than 150 children have been raped in the coast region in the past two months, says a report.
The report, by the Gender-Based Violence and Recovery Centre at the Coast General Hospital, was released by Mombasa County Senior Paralegal Amina Bakari at the end of a women’s conference in Mombasa Thursday.
She said the affected children are mostly below 11 and include boys.
“It is worrying because the numbers have increased from last year. We have recorded 156 cases in the past two months,” said Ms Bakari.
She said despite regular arrests, most perpetrators evaded jail for lack of evidence.
“As much as there are arrests, awareness programmes and specific courts that deal with defilement, cases are still too high. The rate stands at about 60 every month and there is no day in the courts you won’t find at least four cases of sexual offences against children in Mombasa.”
Ms Bakari blamed poverty and negligence by parents for fuelling the vice.
She said disadvantaged children are easily lured with money by strangers who abuse them.
LAZY PARENTS
“Lazy parents who send children to the shops unescorted or to beg money on the streets also expose them,” she added.
The meeting also heard that many women have not taken up leadership positions as stipulated in the Constitution.
Kenya Women Holding Chief Executive Jennifer Riria said there should be at least 30 per cent women representation in the national and county governments.
“We only have 19 per cent representation in Parliament, when we are supposed to have at least 33 per cent,” said Dr Riria.
Mombasa Woman Representative Mishi Mboko urged women to come out of their cocoons and vie for leadership positions in the 2017 General Election.
Ms Mboko said in the entire coast only one woman, Dr Naomi Shaban, is an elected national leader while others are nominated or are handed the positions by virtue of their gender.
Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) Deputy Director Rahma Gulam said insults, lack of education and sexual harassment were limiting women from vying for leadership positions.
