In a recent review of the state of human rights in Taita Taveta county, Haki Africa has documented increased levels of gender-based violence and violation of rights of women and girls. Women and girls are suffering open persecution as their rights continue to be violated and infringed flagrantly.
Meanwhile, the authorities have turned a blind eye. Police, county officials as well elders have ignored their responsibilities and allowed culprits to disgrace the sanctity of womanhood. From Mwakitau to Miasenyi, Timbila to Kasighau, Salaita to Manyani, women and girls are living disgraceful lives with no one to turn to for salvation.
From the assessment, Haki Africa has noted various issues that directly infringe on the rights of women and girls. For example, early marriage and high numbers of teenage pregnancies are denying girls their right to education. Statistics show that up to 20 percent of girls in some areas of Taita Taveta drop out of school due to early marriage/teenage pregnancy.
The situation is made worse by the high numbers of abortions being procured by young girls. In many cases, abortion is procured across the border in Tanzania. Another damning practice is female genital mutilation. FGM is a widely practised cultural activity; it is estimated that up to 60 percent of women in the county have undergone FGM. The practice has seen women complaining of not being able to satisfy their husbands leading to high numbers of divorces.
At the mines of Taita Taveta, it is reported that women are raped and/or forced to sell their bodies in order to eke out a living from the minerals. Some mine officials demand to strip search women workers, including in their private parts.
In certain areas such as Maungu, women who go out in search of water are waylaid by boys and gang-raped. On land matters, women are the worst affected and lose their livelihoods as a result of being denied access to and ownership of land. There is an acute shortage of land; huge chunks are reserved for national parks and private ranches. In this situation, women end up suffering the most as the little land left for communities is all taken up by men.
Incest, where mainly girl children are defiled by their fathers, brothers and uncles, is rampant. Most families conceal incest since they view it as taboo and embarrassing to disclose such matters to the public and the police. The result of which is the perpetrators end up walking scot-free and continues to violate the victim or find another victim.
In Mwatate and Taveta there is lack of access to reproductive healthcare, including pre and postnatal services. Women suffer by giving birth at home, leading to high maternal mortality. In places such as Kasighau, young girls are taken out of school to take care of their siblings and fetch water from far off places.
The greatest concern however is that these violations are happening with the full knowledge of the authorities. In certain instances, police even contribute to violations, especially of land rights. Further, when violations such as incest and defilement are reported to the police, they do not apprehend the suspects. This not only denies victims justice but also encourages the perpetrators.
There is therefore urgent need for immediate action to be taken by the authorities to arrest the situation. Women and girls of Taita Taveta are Kenyans too and deserve to have their constitutional rights and freedoms guaranteed. We demand that both national and county governments, as well as community elders, do more to safeguard the rights of women and girls in Taita Taveta county.
