Nairobi, Kakamega, Nakuru top in sexual violence on children

Sexual violence against children below five years is highest in Nairobi and Nakuru, making them the unsafest for infants, new data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows.

A total of 408 sexual violence incidents against children below five years were reported in Nairobi in 2016, according to the official data.

Despite a 44 per cent decline from the 730 cases captured in 2015, Nairobi retained its notoriety as the most dangerous county for children targeted by sex pests.

Nakuru emerged as the region with the fastest growing sexual violence incidents after reported cases increased by 169 incidents.

Nakuru had 404 sexual violence cases in 2016 up from 235 recorded the previous year. The county had the second-highest occurrence cases after Nairobi in 2016.

Kakamega recorded the third-highest cases of sexual abuse against children below five in 2016 with 248 incidents. Kajiado and Turkana also reported sharp rises of sexual abuse of infants in 2016.

In 2016, Kajiado recorded 169 cases of sexual violence against infants, up from 115 the previous year while in Turkana some 101 infants were sexually molested in 2016 compared to 53 in 2015.

Sexual violence, according to Unicef, comes in four forms that include unwanted sexual touching, attempted penetration, pressured and forced sexual intercourse.

Children below the age of five are in most cases left under the care of nannies, neighbours, family members or in daycare centres as parents spend days or nights away from home in search of income.

Biggest threat

In many instances, some of these trusted individuals and immediate family members are the biggest threat to children and abuse them right in their own homes.

Incidences also went up significantly in Trans Nzoia, Kericho and Laikipia after the number of reported incidences increased by 47, 40 and 39 cases, respectively.

In addition to Nairobi region other five more counties including Kitui, Uasin Gishu, Meru and Nyamira counties saw the greatest improvements in deterring would-be sex offenders of children below five years after incidences went down by 186,111,172 and 102. Cases went down by 132 to 179 sexual incidences among children in Kiambu too.

The sex pests were deterred mainly by the harsh sentencing meted on the calibre of offenders.

However, the number of convicted rapists and sex offenders serving sentence does not reflect the prevalence of sexual violence in Kenya.

For instance, in 2016 only 140 persons were found guilty of rape are serving a term in prison. In 2015, only 123 were found guilty. Yet, thousands of cases were reported.

The sluggish justice system is to blame partly while frustration over the system experienced by victims or their guardians deters them from pursuing the cases.

Depression

According to America’s Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Centre sexual abuse in children causes anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide.

Sexual anxiety and disorders, including having too many or unsafe sexual partners, difficulty setting safe limits with others and relationship problems later in adult life. Poor body image and low self-esteem.

Unhealthy behaviours, such as alcohol, drugs, self-harm, or eating problems, behaviours often used to try to hide painful emotions related to the abuse.

The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Centre says that six out of 10 cases are caused by people known to the family.

A 2010 Unicef study on sexual violence against children in Kenya says neighbours were highly reported to cause sexual violence on children at 23 per cent.