The Parklands Diary

  Image from Pexels by Cottonbro Studio Sexual assault is any kind of sexual activity or contact that happens without the other person’s clear, voluntary, and informed consent. It includes a range of unwanted behaviors such as: unwanted touching, rape, attempted rape, sexual coercion, non-consensual sharing of sexual images and so on. Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Act expressly states that; Any person who unlawfully penetrates the genital organs of another person with (i) any part of the body of another or that person; or​ (ii) an object or instrument, except where such penetration is carried out for proper and professional hygienic or medical purposes;​ (b) manipulates any part of his or her body or the body of another person so as to cause penetration of the genital organs; or (c) commits any other act which causes penetration or indecent act with another person, is guilty of an offence termed sexual assault. Sexual violence is rapidly permeating all sectors of ...

 Image from Pexels by Markus Wikler What if your sister, daughter, son or even you became another statistic? Would you remain silent still? This is the time to ask tough questions, reflect deeply and stand with survivors. Why are we raising awareness about this issue in 2025? Is awareness enough? Are we just acknowledging a crisis without taking any action to end it?   The statistics on sexual violence in Kenya paints an acutely distressing picture. According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, over 40% of   women have endured physical or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime, with the lifetime violence prevalence standing at 20.5% . [1] Another question yet arises. How many of these cases have seen justice? Survivors of this disease are often faced with a system which is slow and unsympathetic. How can we ask survivors to come forward when justice is merely a mirage? What kind of message are we sending to the perpetrators if justice remains...