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“Grace”, Survivor:
He (my husband) used to take advantage during the lockdown, because he knew I couldn’t go anywhere.
He beat me up so badly, something he was used to doing. That day I thought he was going to severely hurt me, because he kept saying he’ll kill me one day.
Nereah Akoth, Counselor, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW):
Gender-based violence has become a national disaster in this nation and therefore, it needs to be dealt with as a national disaster.
Nairobi, Kenya
Nereah Akoth, Counselor, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW):
When COVID came, it came with that component of social distance.
If you are in a situation where the husband is the one who is working, now, he uses the power
which is having the money to now manipulate or abuse this other person.
So home became a danger in the sense that you are forced in one way or the other to be with the perpetrator, with limited options.
The Kenyan government should ensure women and girls at risk of gender-based violence have access to adequate medical and mental health services, safe spaces, financial support and justice.
This is particularly critical during pandemic-related lockdowns.
Nereah Akoth, Counselor, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW):
We were supporting so many clients who were going through GBV [gender-based violence].
We are now having around 1,500 cases. That's already triple the number compared to 2019.
Shelters were overwhelmed because of lack of resources. They are understaffed.
Trans Mara East, Kenya
In 2020, Gladys Koskey received a call from the police about a child who had been abused.
Gladys Koskey, Community Activist:
The child is small, the mother is sick in the hospital and they are poor. The police asked Gladys to care for the child.
Nereah Akoth, Counselor, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW):
The community activists, they become the first responder. And then now that also raises issues of child protection, how safe is this child with this, with this activist? Because probably they are not trained in issues of protection.
But even if they are trained, they need extra support because you find out that they rescue using their own finances.
Gladys Koskey, Community Activist:
When she was brought to me, her condition was not good, she could not walk. She was afraid to go out and play because she did not have the strength to walk. What really helped the girl was talking to her and counseling. It took her about two months to recover. She then started going out to play with the neighbors.
The government has never given me anything. They just ask me to live with the child as my own, as they sort out the case. I volunteer to take care of these children because if I don’t, they will be oppressed.
Nereah Akoth, Counselor, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW):
It's the government's responsibility to take care of its people.
Violence has a way of affecting somebody's mental well-being to a point of sometimes even making smaller decisions becomes very difficult.
So, by the time a woman is deciding to come out of an abusive relationship, there needs to be a lot of support.
“Grace”, Survivor:
I made a decision to leave. I went to the hospital and then went directly to the police station. I used to live a life of fear. At least here, I’m able to relax. The counselor comes to talk with me.
Trans Mara East, Kenya
Gladys Koskey, Community Activist:
We went to the Chief, because we refused to see our fellow women being battered. We said we want to go around teaching and sensitizing our women (to the problem).
Those in government, all they do is talk. We want the government to intervene because personally, it’s overwhelming.
The Department of Children Services should set up a child protection referral system, with adequate monitoring and support for community organizations, extended family or foster families when children are placed in their care.
Community activists like Gladys who foster survivors, should be equipped with the skills and tools, including financial support, to provide these services.
(Nairobi) – Serikali ya Kenya haijashughulikia vilivyo dhuluma za kijinsia katika msimu wa janga la Korona (Covid-19). Uchunguzi umebaini kuwa hata wakati hatua zimechukuliwa,serikali imefanya hivyo shingo upande, Shirika la Human Rights Watch limesema kwenye ripoti yake iliyotolewa leo.
Ripoti hiyo yenye kurasa 61, “Sikuwa na pa kukimbilia’: Dhuluma dhidi ya wanawake na wasichana katika msimu wa Korona nchini Kenya,” imenakili jinsi ukosefu wa serikali kutoa usaidizi kwa waathiriwa kupitia programu zake za ufadhili katika msimu wa Korona ulichangia ongezeko la dhuluma za kimapenzi dhidi ya wanawake na wasichana.Aidha waathiriwa walikabiliwa na dhuluma zaidi kwa sababu serikali ilishindwa kutoa huduma zifaazo za afya kama vile ushauri nasaha, matibabu ya kimwili, na kuwalinda dhidi ya athari zaidi mbali na kukosa kuanzisha uchunguzi kwenye visa vilivyoripotiwa ili kuwashtaki washukiwa.
Kenya haijashuhudia ongezeko la visa vya dhuluma dhidi ya wanawake na watoto katika msimu wa Korona pekee ikibainika kwamba ongezeko la visa hivyo limekuwa likishudiwa kila wakati taifa hili linakabiliwa na majanga ,” asema Agnes Odhiambo, mtafiti mkuu wa haki za wanawake, ambaye pia ni msimamizi mkuu wa Shirika la Human Rights Watch nchini Kenya. “Serikali ilifaa kutarajia ongezeko la dhuluma dhidi ya wanawake, lakini kama ilivyo desturi,hakuna hatua zilizochukuliwa kuwalinda wanawake na wasichana dhidi ya dhuluma za kijinsia.”
Shirika la Human Rights Watch liliwahoji waathiriwa 13 wa dhuluma za kijinsia miongoni mwao wakiwemo wazazi wanne na jamaa za wasichana walioathiriwa. VilevileShirika hilo lilimhoji mwanaharakati wa kijamii ambaye anawatunza wasichana walioathirika. Aidha, mfanyikazi mmoja kwenye mojawapo ya makao ya kukimbilia waathiriwa alikuwa miongoni mwa waliohojiwa.Wengine waliohojiwa ni wawakilishi watano wa mashirika yasiyo ya serikali ambayo huangazia maswala ya dhuluma za kijinsia, maafisa wa kitengo cha polisi kilichoundwa kushughulikia dhuluma za kijinsia_ POLICARE, na idara ya serikali kuhusu maswala ya jinsia. Shirika la Human Rights Watch vilevile limepitia ripoti kadhaa za uchunguzi za serikali, mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali, umoja wa mataifa na taarifa za vyombo vya habari.
Kenya, sawa na nchi nyingine duniani, imeshuhudia ongezeko la visa vya dhuluma dhidi ya wanawake ikiwemo kupigwa,kunajisiwa na dhuluma za kinyumbani wakati wa kafyu iliyotangazwa kukabili msambao wa virusi vya Korona (Covid 19). Hata kabla ya janga la Korona, viwango vya dhuluma dhidi ya wanawake na wasichana vilikuwa juu. Aidha, idadi kubwa ya watu wanaotekeleza maovu hayo bila kutarajia kuchukuliwa hatua,ukosefu wa kanuni za kuwachukulia hatua wanaotekeleza makosa hayo, na ukosefu wa huduma za kuwasaidia waathiriwa ni baadhi tu ya matatizo yanayokumba taifa la Kenya.
Waathiriwa tuliowahoji na watu wengine walizungumzia dhuluma nyingi zikiwemo dhuluma za kimapenzi, kupigwa, kufukuzwa nyumbani, wasichana wadogo kulazimishiwa ndoa, na visa vya kukeketwa. Wanawake na wasichana kutoka jamii maskini au wanaoishi katika mazingira yenye changamoto nyingi za kifedha – ambazo hutatizika zaidi wakati wa majanga mfano janga la Korona (Covid 19) – waliathirika zaidi kwa dhuluma za kimapenzi. Waliotekeleza unyama huo kwa wingi walikuwa jamaa za wasichana walioathirika na vilevile mabwana au wapenzi wa wanawake waliodhulumiwa.
“Nililazimika kuishi nyumbani kwangu nilipokuwa nadhulumiwa kwa sababu sikuwa na pa kukimbilia,” Alisema Amelia A, mwathiriwa wa dhuluma za kinyumbani katika kaunti ya Kisumu.
Waathiriwa wengi waliohojiwa hawakutoa ripoti kwa polisi kwa sababu ya kutokuwa na imani ya kupewa usaidizi.Aidha wengine walihofia kwamba watalazimika kutoa rushwa na ilhali hawakuwa na pesa za kutoa hongo. Wale walioweza kutoa ripoti ya dhuluma kwa polisi hawakuridhika na usaidizi waliopewa. Vile vile, hawakushughulikiwa ifaavyo kiafya au kupata usaidizi ufaao wa kisheria ili kuwashtaki waliowadhulumu. Baadhi walikumbwa na changamoto nyingi wakitafuta usaidizi ikiwemo kukosa pesa za kufadhili nia yao ya kutafuta hifadhi.
Mipango ya serikali ya kutoa usaidizi wa kifedha za dharura wakati wa msimu wa janga la Korona (Covid 19) mfano programu za kuwafadhili watu kifedha haikuhusisha wanawake waliodhulumiwa kijinsia. Shirika la Human Rights Watch lilibainisha kwamba kutokana na ufisadi na ukosefu wa uwazi, waathiriwa wenye mahitaji makubwa hawakupokea pesa za msaada kutoka programu za kuwasaidia msimu wa Korona (Covid-19) kama serikali ilivyokuwa imeahidi.
Waathiriwa pia walisema kwamba kupata hifahdi kwa usalama wao, ilikuwa vigumu kutokana na jinsi ambavyo maafisa wa usalama walikuwa wakitekeleza amri ya kafyu. Makao machache ya hifadhi yaliyopatikana yalikuwa na idadi ndogo ya wafanyakazi na nafasi chache za kuhudumia wanaotafuta hifadhi kutoka na athari za msimu wa Korona (Covid 19).
Yamkini watu sita walifariki kutokana na dhuluma za polisi katika siku mia moja za kwanza za kutekeleza amri ya kutoondoka nyumbani kufikia saa moja jioni.Serikali pia iliwalazimisha maelfu ya watu waliokamatwa kwa kukiuka amri ya kafyu kwenda karantini hatua ambayo ilihatarisha afya yao. Hofu ya kupigwa na polisi na kuzuiliwa kwenye vituo vya karantini iliwafanya waathiriwa kuogopa kutafuta usaidizi, Shirika la Human Rights Watch limesema. Mashirika yanayowashughulikia waathiriwa yaliripoti kwamba waathiriwa wengi walihisi kwamba hawakuwa na njia nyingine ila kuendelea kuishi na watu waliowadhulumu. Aidha waathiriwa wengi walihofia kutafuta usaidizi kutoka kwa polisi kutokana na jinsi ambavyo walikuwa wakitekeleza amri ya kafyu kimabavu.
Wengi wa waaathiriwa walisema kwamba ilikuwa vigumu kwao kupata matibabu ya dharura wakati wa janga la Korona (Covid 19). Katika baadhi ya visa, waathiriwa, na wahisani wao walilazimika kulipia huduma kwenye vituo vya afya vya umma, ilhali huduma hizo zilifaa kutolewa bila malipo.Baadhi ya maafisa katika vituo vya afya vya umma, waliewaelekeza waathiriwa kwenye vituo vya binafsi ambako gharama ya matibabu ni ya juu. Wale waliohojiwa walisema kuwa aidha walipokea usaidizi kidogo au hawakupata usaidizi wowote wa ushauri nasaha kutoka kwa serikali.
Ufisadi miongoni mwa baadhi ya maafisa wa polisi, ukosefu wa uwezo ufaao miongoni mwa maafisa kufanya uchunguzi, na kuingilia uchunguzi unaoendelea na baadhi ya kesi kuendeshwa vibaya uliathiri matumaini ya waathiriwa kupata haki. Kwenye baadhi ya kesi, polisi waliwataka waathiriwa kujifanyia uchunguzi na hata kuhifadhi ushahidi wa dhuluma.Kwa mfano baadhi ya maafisa wa polisi, waliwataka waaathiriwa kutafuta mashahidi na kuwafikisha mbele ya korti. Kimsingi,polisi hawakushirikiana vilivyo na waathiriwa ili kuwawezesha kupata haki kwa kuwashtaki wahusika. Hali hii iliwafanya waathiriwa kukata tamaa.
Witness: Sexual Violence During Kenya’s Covid-19 Lockdown
Government Should Support Community Activists Working to Protect Survivors
Kwenye kesi tatu ambazo angalau zilipelelezwa hadi kufikisha mashtaka kortini,viongozi wa mashtaka hawakuwaongoza vyema walalamishi na wafadhili wao ili kufanikisha mashtaka. Mara kwa mara hawakuwajumuisha kwenye vikao ambavyo vilifanyika kupitia mtandao.
Kwa zaidi ya mwongo mmoja na nusu hivi, serikali ya Kenya imetunga sheria kadhaa za kukabili dhuluma za kimapenzi. Serikali pia imetoa kanuni ambazo polisi wanafaa kufuata ili kukabili dhuluma hizo. Aidha serikali imeteua wahudumu wa maalum wa afya na katika idara haki kushughulikia dhuluma za kijinisia. Mnamo mwezi Mei mwaka huu,rais Uhuru Kenyatta aliahidi kutenga mamilioni ya pesa kukabili ongezeko la visa vya dhuluma katika msimu wa janga la Korona (Covid-19). Lakini janga la Korona lilitoa changamoto kubwa kwa mpango huo huku serikali ikishindwa kupata suluhu.
“Serikali ya Kenya inafaa kutekeleza ahadi za kuwalinda wanawake na watoto kutokana na dhuluma za namna nyingi mbali na kutoa matibabu ya bure na ushauri nasaha kwa waathiriwa. Aidha inafaa kuwapa makao ya hifadhi na kuhakikisha kwamba waathiriwa wanapata haki,” asema Bi.Odhiambo. “Serikali ya Kenya inafaa pia kuandaa mfumo unaoegemea haki ili kuzuia dhuluma zinazowaathiri wanawake na wasichana”
