Kenyan Women Senators Call for Tougher Penalties Against Sex Pests

Kenyan senators from the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) have proposed a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at tackling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and teenage pregnancies.

Following a Senate fact-finding mission to Busia County, KEWOSA highlighted the urgent need for systemic changes, improved enforcement, and enhanced support for survivors. Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian, KEWOSA’s Vice Chairperson, called for a national compensation framework requiring perpetrators of sexual violence to make reparations to their victims. 

She also advocated for the establishment of state-funded safe houses to protect survivors, especially those abused by family members. The reforms include improvements in law enforcement procedures, such as better forensic evidence collection and video-linked testimonies to protect victims and witnesses during trials. 

The senators also seek to end informal justice systems, often known as “kangaroo courts,” which currently handle many SGBV and early pregnancy cases outside the formal judicial process. These courts are criticised for denying survivors proper legal recourse and enabling impunity.

KEWOSA further urged the government to establish bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries to enable the repatriation and prosecution of offenders who cross borders. During their visit to Busia County, KEWOSA leaders uncovered alarming data on teenage pregnancies and SGBV. 

Between 2016 and 2024, the county recorded over 65,000 teenage pregnancies, with Samia Sub-County reporting the highest national rate in 2024, at 4,542 cases. Nationwide, 47,632 cases were reported that year.

Senator Veronica Maina, KEWOSA Chairperson, noted that early pregnancies force many girls to drop out of school, limiting their economic opportunities. She also pointed to the significant health risks faced by adolescent mothers, including maternal complications and increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other infections.

The incidence of sexual violence among adolescents has risen sharply. Data from the National Syndemic Disease Control Council shows Busia recorded 2,884 cases of SGBV from 2016 to 2024, increasing from 66 cases in 2016 to 480 in 2024. 

Adolescents now represent nearly a quarter of all SGBV victims nationwide during this period, with 171 girls becoming pregnant as a result of defilement. Despite existing laws such as the Sexual Offences Act (2006), the Children Act (2022), and constitutional protections under Article 53, enforcement remains weak. 

These laws carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment for defiling children under 11 and minimum sentences of 10 to 20 years for older minors. However, delayed prosecutions and poor enforcement reduce their effectiveness.

Senator Maina urged the Judiciary to expedite SGBV cases and enforce the law firmly, warning that judicial delays encourage offenders and prolong survivors’ suffering. The proposed reforms call for coordinated efforts across the judicial system, law enforcement, health services and community support.