Nairobi: The residents of South West Sakwa location are urging the government to remove medical fees for victims of sexual violence, aiming to alleviate their suffering.
According to Kenya News Agency, the high costs associated with both medical treatment and the completion of P3 forms have been a barrier to justice. Many victims, unable to afford these expenses, see their assailants evade accountability.
The residents voiced their concerns at Kapiyo chief’s camp during a mentorship program organized by Teen Safe Haven, which focuses on local girls aged 10 to 25. South West Sakwa location chief, Peter Obedo, criticized the gap between policy and practice, noting that while authorities claim defilement cases are handled freely, the reality is that victims incur expenses at medical facilities.
Chief Obedo emphasized the need for tangible action, stating, “Let it not be in papers. It should be actualized. The P3 forms should be absolutely free of charge and the process of filling it should not take long.” He also highlighted the bureaucratic challenges victims face, which hinder their pursuit of justice.
The chief commended the local youth for organizing the mentorship event, noting its potential to improve education transition rates in the region. “With such initiative, we are likely to see 100% transition in the coming year,” he remarked.
Teen Safe Haven officials, Isaac Ochieng Atego and Quinter Onyando, explained that the event was initiated after observing the prevalence of teenage pregnancies and school dropouts among girls living near Lake Victoria. “We come from around the lake and teenage pregnancies are rampant,” Atego stated, adding that the program aims to prevent future occurrences.
Onyando noted that the mentorship program addresses issues such as sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases. She mentioned plans to include boys in future sessions and appealed for support from well-wishers to help achieve their goals.
