FIDA-Kenya decries surge in sexual abuse during protests
FIDA-Kenya Chairperson Christine Kungu has expressed concern that the safety of women and girls was overlooked during the unrest, despite increasing reports of abuse.
Women lawyers have called for urgent protection of women and girls during public protests, raising alarm over rising cases of sexual violence, harassment and assault targeting female demonstrators.
The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) said the violations were being used deliberately to intimidate women protesters and discourage their participation in the ongoing youth-led demonstrations.
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Speaking during a Special Council Meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) on Tuesday, FIDA-Kenya Chairperson Christine Kungu expressed concern that the safety of women and girls was overlooked during the unrest, despite increasing reports of abuse.
The meeting was held to discuss insecurity, human rights violations and threats to the rule of law linked to the recent nationwide protests.
“I am concerned with the rise in cases of women being harassed, assaulted, and some reportedly raped during the protests. These incidents reflect the disproportionate risk and trauma that women and girls face during public unrest,” said Kungu, warning that such acts must never be normalised.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) supported the concerns, confirming cases of rape, gang rape and attempted rape during the June 25 protests. The Commission further reported that criminal gangs were exploiting the situation, using sexual violence as a tool to instil fear in female protesters and reduce their participation.
Media reports shared during the meeting indicated that these gangs were deliberately targeting women with sexual violence to discourage their involvement in the demonstrations, adding to the risks and trauma faced by women and girls during public unrest.
The high-level NCAJ meeting, attended by key justice and security agencies, discussed how institutions in the sector could intervene to help manage protests, maintain security, enforce law and order and protect human rights through collaboration and grassroots-level action.
At the close of the meeting, participants issued a Communiqué titled “A Call for the Rule of Law, Peace, Unity, and Respect for Human Rights.” The statement strongly condemned the violence witnessed in the recent protests, which have resulted in deaths, injuries and destruction of property, alongside serious rights violations.
Reflecting on the national crisis, the Council extended condolences to affected families and called on the government to support victims of the violence.
“The Constitution of Kenya remains our shared compass,” the Communiqué read, while reaffirming the right to peaceful protest and condemning both political incitement and acts of violence.
The NCAJ acknowledged that the protests were driven by genuine frustrations among the youth over governance failures, poor service delivery, and high unemployment. It called for constructive dialogue with the youth to address their grievances and warned that failure to act could destabilise national institutions and justice systems.
In its recommendations, the Council called for urgent reforms to resolve the tension between public order enforcement and the constitutional right to protest. It announced that the Kenya Law Reform Commission would undertake a review of relevant laws. The Council also denounced inflammatory political statements, urging leaders to exercise restraint.
The NCAJ further criticised the handling of protests by security agencies, demanding improved professionalism, accountability and adherence to human rights standards by the National Police Service. It also called for swift action to address cases of sexual violence and the disbandment of local criminal gangs taking advantage of the unrest.
“The preservation of peace… is a shared national responsibility,” the Council said.
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