Sexual violence is a serious health and human rights problem in Kenya. Sexual violence affects men and women, boys and girls and has adverse physical and psycho-social consequences on the survivor. The post election violence experienced in 2008 following the disputed 2007 presidential elections, that saw a wave of sexual abuse targeted at women and girls, was perhaps the clearest manifestation of the gravity of sexual violence in Kenya. Sexual violence and its attendant consequences threaten the attainment of global development goals espoused in the Millennium Development Goals and national goals contained in Vision 2030 and National Health Sector Strategic Plan II, as it affects the health and well being of the survivor. Of concern is the emerging evidence worldwide that sexual violence is an important risk factor contributing towards vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The national plan for mainstreaming gender into the HIV/AIDS strategic plan for Kenya has identified sexual violence as an issue of concern in HIV transmission, particularly among adolescents. These call for comprehensive measures to address issues of sexual violence and more importantly meet the diverse and often complex needs of the survivors.
Comprehensive care for sexual violence ranges from medical treatment which includes management of physical injuries, provision of emergency medication to reduce chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections including HIV and provision of emergency contraception to reduce chances of unwanted pregnancies. This also entails provision of psycho-social support through counseling to help survivors deal with trauma and legal assistance to assist the survivor access justice.
These guidelines have been designed to give general information about management of sexual violence in Kenya and focus on the necessity to avail services that address all the needs of a sexual violence survivor, be they medical, psycho-social, humanitarian and/or legal. Although these needs are interrelated, attempt has been made to group the guidelines into chapters that can easily be accessed for easy reference.
The guidelines recognise the fact that children form a significant proportion of survivors of sexual violence and make special provisions for them that address their unique aspects, distinct from those of adults.
The guidelines should be available in all health facilities and it is our sincere hope that their implementation will comprehensively address the needs of survivors of sexual violence in Kenya.