By AFJ Correspondent.
In Kenya, reports in the press of incidences of child sexual abuse are the order of the day. These incidences at times occur at school,home or involve child victims who have been taken for medical care following the ordeal of sexual abuse or at other times is the reportage of arrests and convictions of child sexual abuse perpetrators.
Recent studies on child sexual abuse in Kenya conducted in 10 districts (sexual abuse of school age children: Evidence from Kenya, by Sarah Jerop Ruto) showed that 58% of participating children had experienced sexual harassment while 29% of boys and 24% of girls had been forced into unwanted sex. For the underlining of the enormity of the menace of child sexual abuse is a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) which shows that 46-62% of all sexual assault victims are below the age of 15 years. Complementary data from the Nairobi Hospital indicates that 55% of sexual assault victims are girls between the ages of less than a year to 15 years. A recent study in the Daily Nation Newspaper quoting a report by the Teachers Service Commission – TSC showed that up to 12,660 girls had been sexually abused by teachers over the last five year period. In fact that report showed that some of the perpetrators had abused as many as 20 girls before being reported.
A report by ANPPCAN Kenya chapter indicates that most children are abused by people they know and trust. This report further says that the abusers come from a wide range of backgrounds and may well include liked and respected members of society. The consequences of sexual abuse include early pregnancy, maternal mortality, physical trauma, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV/AIDS and emotional and psychological trauma.
This problem is particularly serious for those from disadvantaged backgrounds because of a combination of poverty and ignorance of the Law. A research conducted shows that children from slums are exposed to sex at an early age and often this results in child prostitution particularly following rape ordeals which rob the victims of self worth. Section 145 cap 63 of the Laws of Kenya states that “anybody having carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 14 years is liable to imprisonment for 14 years hard labour with corporal punishment”. An attempt of the same is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment. Ignorance of the criminality of child sexual abuse, the incapacity to identify abused children and ignorance of where to seek help, combines to end up with the disastrous effect that abused children live with the pain of the trauma for the rest of their lives.
I met Anna Nduto , author of ‘Stop child Sexual Abuse’ and this is what she had to say in an interview.
WHY THE SEXUALITY BOOK?
Child sexual abuse has become rampant in Kenya. Every day we read and hear in the media about children being sexually abused in their homes, schools or neighborhoods. This however need not be the case and the publisher of the book “Stop Child Sexual Abuse” is determined to launch an awareness project on child sexual abuse in Kenyan primary schools that should ultimately reverse the current trend resulting in significant gains against the evil of child sexual abuse.
WHAT AREAS DOES THE BOOK CAPTURE ON SEXUALITY.
The book captures all areas of child sexual abuse such as;
- What is child sexual abuse
- What are the signs of child sexual abuse
- physical, emotional and psychological effects of child sexual abuse.
- What parents, guardians and teachers can do to spot a child abused and what they should do to help the children
AS A PUBLISHING AUTHOR ,HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU WHILE PRODUCING THE BOOK, CHALLENGES.
The cost of publishing, printing and distributing books is very expensive in Kenya. The main challenge l have experienced is cost of printing and distributing the book for free in Kenyan primary schools. Clarity Publications is looking for a partner to team up with to print and distribute for free the Child abuse book to over 100,000 children with copies of these books.
WHOM DID YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH WHEN PRODUCING THE BOOK.
The book “Stop Child Sexual Abuse” is co-authored by Anna Nduto, the Managing Director of Clarity Publications & a children’s writer with vast experience in writing for children and Ruth Kimaathi, a former Counselling Psychologist at the Gender Violence Recovery Centre at Nairobi Women’s Hospital.
HOW IS THE BOOK VIEWED WITH CHILDREN AND WHAT HAS BEEN THEIR RESPONSE SO FAR.
The book has so far been received very well by the children, parents, teachers and guardians who have read the book. The information has been very informative & enlightening to them
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHING WORK , THE JOURNEY AND OTHER BOOKS YOU HAVE DONE,
Iam the CEO of Clarity Publications is a Kenyan Registered company operating from Nairobi’s CBD. The company has been in operation since 2005 within which time it has registered growth both in product and service portfolio, sales and market reach. Clarity’s main business is communication & media consultancy, business training & consultancy and publishing of books, reports, newsletters and magazines for companies in Kenya, East Africa and within the COMESA region. The company has published over 30 books so far, for individuals and organisations such as NGOS.
Clarity Publications, a communications and publishing company that is based in Nairobi, Kenya, has provided publishing and communication consultancy services to many individuals, companies and non governmental organisations (NGOs) in Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, USA and Italy. Anna is also the founder and CEO of Zegen International Holdings Limited and Tunaweza Pamoja Initiative.
I have been recognized for my skills and expertise in communication, media relations, publishing, editing, writing, research, journalism, event organizing, fundraising, advocacy, entrepreneurship, training, leadership, business, mentorship and public relations; with a special interest in child education and child rights. I have over 15 years’ experience in entrepreneurship with emphasis on communication, media and publishing industries. After working in the media and publishing industry for about ten years i decided to start my own communication and publishing company, Clarity Publications. In my line of work I have consulted for many organisations and individuals from all over the world. I have done consultancies for organisations such as; Save the Children Sweden, African Network on the Protection and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), Childline Kenya, OXFAM, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (VSF) Belgium, Action Aid and Terre des Hommes Netherlands.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from Daystar University and a Business Management and Marketing Certification from Strathmore University. Iam also a member of the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK).
THE PENETRATION OF THE BOOK AMONG KENYAN CHILDREN, HOW FAR HAVE YOU REACHED.
I have not been able to distribute very many books so far due to costs of printing and distribution, l need donors/sponsors to fund printing and distribution.
THE GAPS FACED IN DISTRIBUTION AND HOW YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS.
I have not been able to distribute very many books so far due to costs of printing and distribution.I need people who we can partner with to see the books get to reach Kenyan children.Every child in Kenya needs to read this book, whether boy or girl because sexual abuse cuts across all.
Clarity Publications set out to publish a book that will create awareness about child sexual abuse titled “Stop Child Sexual Abuse”. The book is targeted at children aged between 8 to 14 years, parents, guardians, teachers and people working with children such as people working in churches, children’s homes, hospitals and civil society organisations. The book’s main aim is to create awareness and to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the issue of child sexual abuse.
