Despite the prevalence of violence against women, there is only one specialist police station in the country dealing with female victims of assault. But Kilimani police station is in Nairobi; away from the capital, women who attempt to report rape or domestic violence are left at the mercy of police officers who may be unsympathetic, who may blame the women themselves for "not satisfying" their husbands, or for somehow having provoked sexual assault by strangers. The police, after all, do not live in a cultural vacuum; if the society around them does not condemn violence against women, they are unlikely to step in simply because they law says they should. Instead, women are likely to feel stigmatised and will be reluctant to report assaults, as they fear being ostracised by their families and society at large.

As a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Kenya has an obligation to censure domestic and sexual violence. While the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services may pay lip service to these ideals, the fact remains that violence against women has actually increased in the past three years. Until firm action is taken on the ground, to educate both men and women as to their rights and responsibilities, we will not see the necessary cultural change so that women are no longer seen as fair game.

Unlike Chris Brown, Kenyan men are not subject to $50,000 bail on suspicion of beating their wives or girlfriends. They have not lost lucrative endorsement contracts, nor are radio stations refusing to play their songs. Unlike Rihanna, Kenyan women are not ferried directly to hospital by solicitous law enforcement officers when they are attacked, nor have the police impounded their rented Lamborghinis for forensic tests. Jay-Z is not going to come to their aid. However, this only shows that domestic violence is not limited to the poor or the unfortunate. Even famous rich women can be victims. As we continue to read tabloid rumour and conjecture, as we wait for Chris Brown to appear in court on March 5, we would do well to think about how we can reduce domestic violence in Kenya.

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written by CMN , February 21, 2009

Thanks for this post and for taking the time to relate such an important issue to the situation we have at home when it comes to violence against women.

Of course violence against women is an incredibly pervasive problem, one that is so deeply entrenched in our culture of patriarchy that often many of us do not recognize violence when we see it, and I believe that psychological violence whereby women are systematically put down (whether it is in a domestic situation or outside), is a problem. I personally believe that we cannot get anywhere if we do not press upon our people that women should be treated with respect at all times, violence is simply and absolutely unacceptable. This is something which I feel very strongly about but unfortunately I am always pessimistic when I think of practical ways to address violence against women in Kenya. What are your suggestions in terms of the next steps needed to improve services as well as legislation?


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written by Anonymous , February 25, 2009

To change the situation in Kenya, would take maybe a few generations with progressively adjusting thinking. Not overnight definitely. What about Kenyans who bring this way of thinking overseas? I know it's easier tackled of course, but in reality, not as straightforward as one may think. Remember both the man and woman have been brought up in Kenya, got married there and maybe even started a family, say a good 5-10 years together in total. Upon being battered here, in this western society, where women are respected and protected, it's not second nature for the Kenyan woman to do what many of us would consider 'normal', report it and get a restraining order and the works... Her support system when it comes to such a drastic issue, would almost always be family back in Kenya, possibly even the in-laws, his parents! How do you think this issue can be best addressed here? Keeping in mind that the legal system here isn't very sensitive to all our cultural 'baggage' which, whether they admit it or not, is very instrumental in what choices our women make.

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It is Possible
written by Susan , March 15, 2009

Here we are discussing Domestic Abuse, and am going to try and stay on that but it tends to over flow to more than just the abused and the abuser. Change is possible and it has been done before. It becomes tricky when the breakdown of who it is that has to change. Please note l say tricky because most of the time the abuser does not believe that they are doing something wrong,wrong to the point where it is that they have to change. The man or woman depending on who it is that is doing the abuse has to know and accept that they are doing something wrong and that they need to stop doing it. Ok if am not doing it what it is that l am going to be doing, and is it easy or hard, does it take more time and energy than what it is that l was doing in the first place?? How we view the Domestic Abuse as a community needs to change. The consequences need to be more than just what they are now because it is safe to say that what they are is not working for sure because things have not gotten any better. The Abusers need to know that it does not stay behind closed doors anymore, and if you are proud of what it is that you do then own it all the way.

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