The three men, driver, conductor and petrol station attendant who were sentenced to death, in Naiorbi, July 19, 2017. [Photo: @NGECKenya]
Below is a statement from the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), after a magistrate court sentenced to death, three men, driver, conductor and petrol station attendant, for robbery with violence, and undressing a lady, in a Githurai-bound bus, for allegedly putting on clothes that showed off her body parts.
The ruling was issued July 19.
"The National Gender and Equality Commission has noted the landmark ruling made by Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi against 3 male members of a bus crew now sentenced to hang for sexual assault and robbery with violence against a female passenger.
The ruling by Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi no doubt reverberates across the entire justice system and particularly where cases of sexual and gender based violence are concerned.
The case has set a major precedent that no matter how long an offense takes to be reported, survivors of sexual gender based violence should gather courage and report such violations to the police for investigations and eventual prosecution of the perpetrators.
We welcome the ruling and commend the Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for thorough investigations that ensured a powerful conviction was obtained. The verdict should serve as a powerful deterrent against all forms of sexual and gender based violence.
We urge the State to take appropriate measures to safeguard the welfare of survivors of sexual and gender based violence to ensure they do not suffer more harm and stigma.
SIGNEDWINFRED O. LICHUMA EBSCHAIRPERSON"