The newly appointed coordinator of the Protest Victims Compensation Plan, Makau Mutua, has condemned the widespread sexual abuse of female students in Kenyan schools, calling for severe sanctions against teachers who are found guilty of the act.

In a statement posted on his X account on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Mutua highlighted the widespread nature of sexual misconduct in educational institutions, describing the practice as commonplace and a violation of core human rights.

“Rape, sexual coercion, and predatory assaults by teachers of female students — most of them minors — are commonplace in Kenya’s schools,” Mutua stated.

Severe consequences

The constitutional lawyer emphasised the severe consequences of such abuse, noting that it causes lasting psychological damage and undermines educational outcomes for victims.

“This brutal misconduct and abuse cause lifelong traumas and deeply curtail learning,” he noted.

Mutua framed the issue as a fundamental breach of constitutional protections, arguing that sexual abuse in schools violates students’ basic human rights.

He urged authorities to take swift and uncompromising action to hold offenders accountable and prevent further harm to vulnerable students.

“It’s criminal and violates core human and constitutional rights to bodily integrity and human dignity and must be sanctioned without pity,” he declared.

Rising cases of sexual violence

Makau’s remarks come just weeks after the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya condemned the increasing incidents of harassment, assault, and sexual violence against women and girls during the protests in July across the country.

Speaking during a press briefing held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, FIDA Kenya’s Executive Director, Ann Ireri, confirmed that they had received reports of sexual abuse, with 21 cases under investigation as of June.

However, she noted that the actual number could be significantly higher due to the difficulties survivors face when reporting such incidents.

“As of June, the cases we received are 21, which we are investigating to isolate which ones were protest-related. Even in ordinary circumstances, reporting cases of sexual violence is extremely difficult,” Ireri explained.