Lamu told: stop hiding sexual violence in village bargains, let justice speak
Communities in Lamu are coming under sharp scrutiny after prosecutors raised alarm over a growing trend of settling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases behind closed doors instead of reporting them to the authorities.
During a public engagement in Kauthara, Hindi Division, officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) warned that the informal “mini-courts” springing up in villages are helping offenders slip through the cracks while leaving survivors without justice.
Prosecution Counsel Ahmed Mohamed told residents that efforts to curb SGBV in Lamu are being undermined by quiet family negotiations that prioritise social harmony over accountability.
“Whenever these cases are handled under the table, it is the survivors who pay the price. Justice cannot thrive in silence,” he said, urging community members to abandon the habit of resolving sexual offences through clan elders or household talks.
Mohamed revealed that children are increasingly at risk either as direct victims of sexual abuse or as silent witnesses to violence within the home. He stressed that parents and guardians who fail to protect minors could face criminal charges for neglecting their legal duties.
At the meeting, prosecutors broke down the steps that are critical in pursuing justice for SGBV survivors: immediate medical attention, preservation of evidence, and early reporting to investigators. Any delays, they explained, make it harder to build strong cases and ultimately embolden offenders.
Despite these guidelines, many residents in remote islands and villages of Lamu continue to remain cut off from formal legal channels because of long distances, stigma, and limited information on where to seek help.
Mohamed affirmed that the ODPP is scaling up community-centred outreach and child-friendly interventions to bring justice processes closer to isolated populations. He said meaningful progress will only come when residents understand their rights and trust the systems designed to protect them.
Justice sector actors at the forum echoed the call, urging consistent public education and deeper community participation to dismantle the culture of silence around sexual violence. Their message was clear: survivors must be empowered, and offenders must face the full force of the law.
