By Fred Deya
Activists in Nairobi have condemned the rape and attempted murder of a young woman in Mombasa recently.
Issuing a statement on the matter, civil society organizations that champion for human rights and gender-based issues heavily condemned the act that was done to Irene Aisha Syongula .
The statement, which was read to by Wangechi Wachira, co-convenor of the Africa Unite Kenya chapter steering committee (AUKE) , highlighted the plight of Aisha and called for a quick investigation by law enforcers into the matter.
Wachira, who was the key speaker highlighted that civil society organizations under the auspices of the Africa UNITE Kenya chapter had in a choral voice condemned all forms of violence against women, girl child, and men.
Irene , was recently raped by four unknown men in Kibarani, Mombasa, sustaining severe injuries leading her for death.
The assailants, known to her, tied her on the railway after raping her and she was after which a train ran over her limbs.She is now hospitalized with no limbs fighting for her life.
According to AUKE official, the heinous act on the young girl in the coastal city could be the latest testimony to the growing impunity and disregard to human rights in the country.
According to Angelina Cianda, program manager Centre for Human Rights education and Awareness supported the statement, said that gender-based violence must be regarded one of the worst violations of human rights that affect not only the survivors but also those within the larger society.
However, civil society organizations through AUKE have asked the government to step on the Centre stage in the fight against gender violence.
“There is no room or place for gender-based violence in a modern Kenya. We there urge Kenyans to help us demand human right.” part of the statement read.
Also, among their grievances was, the launch of serious and credible investigation into the assault of Irene Aisha by the Inspector General of police, that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately to proceed to prosecute to the full force of law everyone involved in the assault of the young lady and any gender-based violence suspect.
The statement finally alluded that all Kenyans to hold sacred the human rights as provided in country’s constitution.
There is a steady rise in gender-based violence in Kenya most especially against women, constitution to up to 90 percent as was revealed in the latest annual report released by Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC).
According to GVRC, out of all cases that were reported to gender-based violence between the year 2011 and 2012 2532 were sexual and only 422 were physical assaults. That means 09 percent of all reported cases of gender violence are normally reported by women and girls as only 10 percent by men and boys.
“For that matter, it is evidential that women and girls bear the greatest burden of pain and suffering”, said Grace Wangechi GVRC Executive Director (as in the report).
According to GVRC report, one out five women is vulnerable to sexual violence in the country which is 21 percent of women in Kenya who are at risk for sexual abuse. 45 percent of women between ages of 15-49 in Kenya have experienced either physical or sexual violence.
Further statistical analysis by GVRC indicated that out of all sexual violence victims, 64 percent of the survivor of violence know the offenders behind their ordeal whereby most violence towards women is committed by an inmate partners with 90 percent off reported perpetrators against women are men.
Culture has been cited as the most profound cause of violence against women in Kenya whereby dozens of men still subscribe to outdated traditions, as was unveiled by GVRC report.
