Towards a Sexual Offences Law: Reappraising the Legal Framework on Sexual Violence in Kenya

Abstract

Sexual violence is a public health problem and a violation of human rights.' Violence is defined as "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development or deprivarion'i.? Sexual violence is an increasing decadence on the rise, the world over. Kenya is not an exception with respect to the rise in these incidences. Unfortunately it has received little attention from the government, policy-makers, researchers, academics, affected communities as well as NGOs. The upsurge however, can be attributed to poverty and the prevailing socio-economic conditions under which people live as well as the increased deterioration of the same. It is further enhanced by ignorance of the law, as well as the insufficient coverage of legal . regulation and retribution to control incidences of sexual violence.