HARROWING TALES OF RAPE

HARROWING TALES OF RAPE
The raiders are planning to abduct 78 women to cook for them in the forest and fulfill their sexual cravings

Residents of Bahati and Munyaka in Cherangany division, Trans-nzoia district, Kenya feel dejected. They feel they could wake up from the ‘nightmare’ but this is wishful thinking.

What started as post-election violence has given rise to another evil in the community
Jane (Not her real name) narrates her ordeal
‘Last week, raiders stormed my house just after we had taken supper’ she says. The gang armed with guns, ordered his family to lie down and ransacked the house. They took valuables and demanded money as they beat the victims.

The raiders’ tried to rape my sister in law but she thwarted them away. My in-law tricked them that she was HIV positive but the gangsters retorted ‘‘AIDS is what we want” my in-law became difficult and they beat her living her for dead. My brother in law was bludgeon on the head with a gun until he lost consciousness
The raiders then forced me and my brother in-law to carry the stolen loot to the Cherangany forest, nine kilometers away.

‘ We carried the loot deep into the forest on the way the gang raped me twice as my brother in law watched helplessly the gangster demanded by brother in-law to watch the act’
After a nine kilometer walk, the victims came to one of the dens used by the raiders where they were directed to leave the loot and find their way back.
‘We left the forest, but not without another round of humiliation. I was gang raped as my brother in law watched again. I begged them to leave me but my begging fell on deaf ears’
Because it was shortly after mid night, the two hid in the thicket to avoid meeting another gangster coming from their raids. ‘It was very cold and scary but we did not give up. We prayed and in the morning we went to the hospital.
In another incident, 16 years old student and her sister were abducted and raped repeatedly by the cattle robbers before they escaped

‘The bandits stormed our home and stole the livestock and properties before abducting us. They took us to the forest where they raped us for 2 days before we managed to escape, Ann (Not real name).
The traumatized girl now says life has lost meaning. ‘Why is life so cruel? Education has lost meaning and I don’t want to know my HIV status. My dream has been shuttered’
The residents say the raiders are planning to abduct 78 women to cook for them in the forest and fulfill their sexual cravings. Incidents of rape have become rampant. ‘After stealing the livestock, they vent their anger on women and girls, by raping them. The victims are often raped before their husbands, children and other family members. It’s a sad story ‘an area resident says.

Immediate Response by TYSA
Organized for post exposure prophylaxis treatment
Offered alternative safe accommodation for the victims and their children
Offering food and clothing
Basic counseling

More support still needed and can be directed through www.globalgiving.com/2173

Gichuki Francis