High Court orders government to pay Ksh 4 Million to victims of PEV sexual violence

The High Court in Nairobi has directed the government to pay Ksh. 3.5 Million in compensation to four victims sexually abused in the Post Election Violence. – By Gerald Gekara.

They were each awarded 4 million shillings (approximately USD 35,000) “for the violation of their constitutional rights.

In the ruling, the Court found that the Government of Kenya culpable after a failure to conduct independent and effective investigations and prosecutions of SGBV [sexual and gender-based violence]-related crimes during the post-election violence.

This is first time ever in Kenya that post-election sexual violence has been legitimately recognised by the government and survivors have been offered compensation for harm suffered.

Naitore Nyamu, head of the Kenya office of Physicians for Human Rights, one of the co-petitioners that brought the case in 2013 praised the Judiciary for yet again making a historical ruling to aid those affected.

“This is a historic day for survivors of the rampant sexual violence perpetrated in the aftermath of the 2007 election, who have waited for accountability for far too long. The court’s decision will reverberate widely for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence in Kenya and around the world.” They added