The Kenyan judiciary launched the Digital Sex Offender Registry, accessible to legal officers and the public.
The purpose of the digital sex offender registry is to address the lack of reliable data on sexual offences and enhance public safety.
1. Launched the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court (SGBV) Strategy, Child Justice Strategy, Convicted Sexual Offenders Electronic Register and established specialised SGBV Courts at Kibera and Makadara Law Courts. pic.twitter.com/TqSnYuTtpI
— Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH (@CJMarthaKoome) June 26, 2023
It allows legal officers and the public to access information about convicted sex offenders, which can help prevent and rehabilitate sexual offenders, facilitate post-prison monitoring, and provide information to protect children and other vulnerable people from known sex offenders.
Chief Justice Koome while launching it on June 26, highlighted the registry’s role in addressing sexual, gender-based violence, and child abuse by providing reliable and accessible data on the prevalence, patterns, and trends of these crimes.
“We have taken this step in response to the reality that one of the key challenges in addressing sexual, gender-based violence and child abuse is the lack of reliable and accessible data on the prevalence, patterns and trends of these crimes and those who commit them,” said the chief justice.
“This hampers effective planning, monitoring and evaluation of interventions and policies. It also poses a risk of repeat offending and victimisation.”
“This initiative brings us closer to our vision of a safe and secure society, one where accountability and justice reign supreme.”
11. The Register, established under the Sexual Offences Act, serves as a crucial database, holding the records of all convicted offenders. By automating this Register, we will ensure easy access to information on convicted sex offenders, facilitating expedited justice. pic.twitter.com/OW7FArbZvC
— Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH (@CJMarthaKoome) June 26, 2023
The country, through The Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Penal Code, the Sexual Offenses Act 2006, and the Children‘s Act 2001, provides a secure legal framework to prosecute SGBV cases.
However, the justice system is riddled with hurdles, according to the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) Policy Brief No. 26 – June 2012.
The brief emphasizes the need for increased advocacy for survivors to improve their protection and hold perpetrators accountable.
In Kenya, the most common forms of GBV are physical assault, rape/attempted rape, murder, sexual offences, defilement, grievous harm, physical abuse, child marriages, psychological torture and child neglect.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, 34% of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. Of these, 16% experienced physical violence often or sometimes in the 12 months before the survey.
In addition, a slightly lower proportion of men, 27%, have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, with 10% experiencing such violence in the 12 months before the survey.
In terms of trends, KNBS said, “The percentage of women who experienced physical violence in the 12 months before the survey declined from 20% in 2014 to 16% in 2022. Over the same period, the percentage among men declined slightly from 12% to 10%.”
