By Wilfred Muchire
The government has challenged victims and witnesses to come forward with evidence following claims by former Deputy President and DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua that dozens of women were raped during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election campaigns.
In a statement issued yesterday, Principal Secretary for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action Ms Anne Wang’ombe said the State Department had not received any official reports to substantiate allegations that 68 women were sexually assaulted during the by-election period in Nyandarua County.
The response follows claims by Gachagua during political engagements after the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election, in which he alleged that hired goons raped 68 women. He also claimed that public officers had been sexually exploiting schoolgirls and young female students in Naivasha, and called for investigations and action against those responsible.
Ms Wang’ombe said the allegations were grave and touched on the safety, dignity and constitutional rights of women and girls, adding that the government treats all reports of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) with utmost seriousness.
“The State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action notes with concern allegations made during the Ol Kalou by-election regarding incidents of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence,” she said.
She disclosed that, so far, neither the National Gender-Based Violence Toll-Free Line 1195 nor the department’s WhatsApp reporting platform had received reports of rape or sexual violence linked to the Ol Kalou by-election.
The Principal Secretary further said the department had not received any official reports from the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), the National Police Service or health facilities in Nyandarua County confirming the alleged 68 rape cases.
According to the State Department, such a large number of incidents would ordinarily be reflected in hospital records, police occurrence books and established gender-based violence reporting systems.
However, Ms Wang’ombe cautioned that the absence of official reports should not be interpreted to mean the allegations were false or should be dismissed.
Instead, she appealed to survivors, witnesses, parents and guardians with any information relating to the alleged incidents to report the matter immediately to the nearest police station, through the national GBV toll-free line or the government’s WhatsApp reporting platform.
She assured survivors that all reports would be handled with confidentiality, dignity and urgency.
The PS said the State Department was working closely with the National Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, county governments, health facilities and civil society organisations to ensure that every credible complaint is thoroughly investigated.
She stressed that anyone found culpable would face the full force of the law regardless of their social status or public office.
On the separate allegations of sexual exploitation involving schoolgirls in Naivasha, Wang’ombe said the government was equally concerned and urged anyone with information to formally report the cases to enable investigations.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and femicide, saying protection of women, girls, boys and other vulnerable persons remained a constitutional obligation.
The PS also urged the media, civil society organisations and gender rights advocates to support efforts aimed at encouraging survivors to report abuse so they can access justice, medical treatment and psychosocial support.
Gachagua has maintained that serious crimes were committed during the heated Ol Kalou by-election campaigns and called for accountability from security agencies.
The government’s statement now places the focus on formal reporting and investigations, with authorities indicating they are ready to act on any credible evidence presented by victims or witnesses.
