Set up crime unit to handle sexual violence, lobby urges state.

The Ministry of Interior is being urged to establish a Sex Crimes Unit by a number of civil society organizations working to end sexual violence.

The organizations, which include the Wangu Kanja Foundation, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) Kenya, and eight others, demand that the prevention of sexual violence receive higher priority.

Following the recent unveiling of the Water Police Unit by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, they issued a statement on Monday.

They stated, "We acknowledge that water is a critical resource that supports livelihoods and that women's safety and security are directly impacted by its availability or lack thereof."

They asserted that this is in recognition of the fact that the task of searching for water falls primarily on girls and women.

They stated, "It is our expectation that the new police unit will prioritize the needs of women and girls and protect them from further exploitation and abuse in the search for water."

However, they added, the Ministry's urgent attention and action to combat sexual violence is a more significant priority.

"13% of women reported that they had experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives, and 7% said they had experienced it in the last 12 months," they stated. "According to the latest KDHS report of 2022," they added.

They stated that despite the Police Department's efforts to provide survivors of sexual violence with dignified services, including the establishment of Policare, in the past two years, more needs to be done.

It was anticipated that Policare would fill in the legal voids in Kenya's system for dealing with sexual violence.

They stated, "Unfortunately, Policare has not yet been fully implemented so that survivors can access the valuable services the unit claims to provide."

They urged the Ministry to expedite the implementation of Policare and to devote sufficient resources to the efforts of the police to safeguard women and girls from sexual violence and ensure that they have access to justice.