FIDA-Kenya Decries Sexual Violence, Rights Abuses During Anti-Government Protests
The Mt Kenya Times 
FIDA-Kenya Chairperson Christine Kungu issuing her statement to the press alongside FIDA representatives.
By Cynthia Masibo
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) has raised alarm over what it terms a grave escalation of human rights violations, particularly targeting women, during the recent anti-government protests across the country.
In a strongly worded statement delivered Tuesday, July 9, at a hotel in Nairobi, FIDA-Kenya condemned the use of excessive force, sexual violence, abductions, and extrajudicial killings by security agencies amid nationwide unrest.
The protests, largely driven by public opposition to government fiscal policies and a controversial finance bill, have drawn heavy-handed responses from law enforcement, resulting in deaths, injuries, and what civil society groups say is a troubling pattern of rights violations.
FIDA-Kenya’s Executive Director, Anne Ireri, emphasized the urgent need for accountability, noting that women and girls are disproportionately affected in times of political instability. “We are deeply disturbed by credible reports of sexual and gender-based violence meted out during these protests. These violations are not only criminal acts but a betrayal of public trust by the very institutions meant to protect us,” she said.
Citing findings from human rights groups and support organizations, Ireri said at least 14 women were raped during the June 25 protests. Usikimye, a grassroots organization supporting survivors of gender-based violence, has so far assisted 13 victims, with 11 recounting harrowing gang rapes perpetrated by multiple assailants.
“These women were not just attacked they were violated in the most brutal and dehumanizing ways, some by up to 11 perpetrators,” said Usikimye founder Njeri Mwangi, who was present at the briefing.
FIDA-Kenya revealed it is working alongside other human rights defenders, lawyers, medical professionals, and trauma counselors to provide immediate support to survivors. In addition, the organization pledged to initiate public interest litigation and demand independent investigations into all reported cases of police misconduct and sexual violence.
The organisation is also urging the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to expedite investigations and prosecutions where necessary.
“The culture of impunity cannot be allowed to persist. Victims must see justice, and systemic safeguards must be established to prevent recurrence,” Ireri added.
FIDA-Kenya is also calling on the government to implement trauma-informed survivor care systems in public hospitals, ensure the safety of women protestors, and uphold constitutional rights to assembly and expression without discrimination.
The press briefing comes amid heightened domestic and international scrutiny of Kenya’s handling of civil protests. Diplomatic missions and global human rights groups have echoed calls for investigations into the reported human rights violations.
FIDA-Kenya concluded the briefing with a call to action, urging all stakeholders including government agencies, civil society, and the international community to unite in defending the rights and dignity of women and girls in Kenya.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of the protests, survivors’ stories remain a sobering reminder of the human cost of political unrest and the need for justice and reform.
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