Relief Supplies Reach Rape Victims Dwelling in Largest Slum

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi, Kenya 30th April 2020

A congregation of Indian faithfuls ( Arya Samaj Nairobi, Arya Stri Samaj and Arya Pratinidhi Sabha ( EA ) yesterday morning pledged to support a whole host of women living in Kenya’s largest informal settlement (Kibera Slum) who are continuously getting sexually violated during the Covid 19 lockdown period ( The government of Kenya through President Uhuru Kenyatta recently issued a 7pm- 5pm Curfew notice for an initial period of 21 days which was further increased for another 21 days, a factor which has significantly reduced the incomes of Kenyan citizens living in the Slums and who work in non-formal jobs living in various locations across Nairobi who have lost income and making them irritable.

According to a report on Gender based violence by the national Crime Research Centre released in 2014 the life time prevalence for gender based violence stood at 38% for women and 20.9% for men.

Members offering donations arriving for the event. Image courtesy the Whistling African

A recent report by the National Council on Administration of Justice reported “a significant spike in sexual offences painted a gory picture depicting rising incidences of sexual defilement, wife battery and rape on the rise during the Covid 19 lockdown period and it is perhaps based on these premise that the group argue such incidences must be surely on the rise in Kenya’s largest informal settlement and hence the need to provide assistance to such women in need.

Standing in front of the water tanks up for donation include Ms. Editer Ochieng founder of FPRJC, Mr Yash Pal Monga, Ms. Heena Bachheta. Image Courtesy whistling African.

The donation amounting to Ksh100,000 (USD1000) which include two 5000 Litre water Tanks, food packages of ksh500 and 300 face masks will be issued weekly through the Non Government Organization, Feminist for Peace Rights and Justice Centre (FPRJC); which operates to champion the rights of women who call Kibera a home and whose founder Ms. Editar Ochieng (who was also present at the event) is also past rape victim. This may seen to be in contravention of an earlier directive by government urging that all donations for COVID 19 mitigation efforts be channeled through it and comes in the wake of two women sucumbing as they were trampled to death in a stampede struggle to get food donations.