
Audio By Carbonatix
A top Kenyan university has apologised after blaming "reckless" female students for becoming victims of rape.The security memo, which was sent to all students on Tuesday, was "insensitive", the University of Nairobi's vice-chancellor admitted.A petition started in response to the memo questioned how women could be blamed for their own rape.Popular media personality, Adelle Onyango, posted on Instagram: "This is what victim shaming looks like."The 31-year-old, who is a rape survivor, told her 374,000 followers that she was outraged that the university had had no condemnation for the rapists."This is what normalisation of rape looks like. And we will not stand for it."The memo, signed by the head of security, said the rising number of cases of robbery and rape of university students in the capital, Nairobi, occurred at certain spots close to campuses."In all the three rape incidences reported last year, a clear case of recklessness on the part of our female students can be drawn," it said.It gave an example of a drunk student who was gang-raped on her way back in the early hours of the morning.It also included tips about how to keep safe in social gatherings, suggesting students always go out with trusted friends, memorise important numbers in case they lost a phone and never leave their drinks unattended.
Adelle Onyango said that if men just stopped raping, rape would stopMs Onyango, who is raising funds to launch Safe 24/7 to offer free therapy and support to survivors of rape, said such advice given to women was part of the problem."Right now, where we go, what time we will go there, who we will go with, how we will get there, what we will wear etc is governed by how safe we will be and that is NOT normal neither is it OK!"If men just stopped raping us, rape will stop."The Change.org petition, so far signed by nearly 1,500 people, said: "Misogyny has been time and again endorsed by the powers in play in Kenya, and that has got to stop."Stephen Kaima, the university's vice-chancellor, said students were advised to call the security department whenever they faced "security challenges during day and night".According to a Kenya National Bureau of Statistics study from 2014, 14% of Kenyan women have experienced sexual violence.
Adelle Onyango said that if men just stopped raping, rape would stopMs Onyango, who is raising funds to launch Safe 24/7 to offer free therapy and support to survivors of rape, said such advice given to women was part of the problem."Right now, where we go, what time we will go there, who we will go with, how we will get there, what we will wear etc is governed by how safe we will be and that is NOT normal neither is it OK!"If men just stopped raping us, rape will stop."The Change.org petition, so far signed by nearly 1,500 people, said: "Misogyny has been time and again endorsed by the powers in play in Kenya, and that has got to stop."Stephen Kaima, the university's vice-chancellor, said students were advised to call the security department whenever they faced "security challenges during day and night".According to a Kenya National Bureau of Statistics study from 2014, 14% of Kenyan women have experienced sexual violence.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Mahama’s first-year performance scores 4.9/10 in IERPP assessment
2 minutes -
YEA partners Ghana Digital Centres to train 2,000 youth in AI, cybersecurity and digital skills
15 minutes -
Cabinet to reconvene on Constitution review position paper
20 minutes -
Big Ghun donates educational materials to Makye Israel School in second Bigg Save Project
36 minutes -
Ghana Campaign wins at 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards as global PR excellence takes centre stage
40 minutes -
Galamsey could collapse Ghana’s cocoa industry – COCOBOD warns
45 minutes -
1 in 5 districts face severe teacher shortages despite near-universal school enrolment – Report
49 minutes -
Interior Ministry reviews Nkwanta South curfew hours amid ongoing conflict
56 minutes -
Indian High Commissioner visits GPHA to explore cooperation in maritime sector
59 minutes -
GNFS recovers body of 11-year-old boy who drowned at Adenta Aviation
1 hour -
Media experts advocate sustainable financing to strengthen journalism, democracy
1 hour -
Over 1,000 persons acquire new HIV infections in Bono within five months – GAC
1 hour -
Weeds take over Judicial Service bungalow at Wenchi, key staff rent private accommodation
1 hour -
GNFS rescues trapped victim after Kpetoe-Sarakope road collision
1 hour -
Shatta Wale, Medikal partner with GoldBod to champion Made-in-Ghana Jewellery
1 hour