The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has expressed its outrage at a headline that ran in the Standard newspaper concerning a report on the rape incident at Moi Nairobi Girls High School.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, FIDA claims that the headline published by the newspaper trivialised an otherwise serious matter.
"FIDA Kenya was dumbfounded by the headlines that hit the Standard newspapers on July 4, 2018, publicizing KUPPET's trivialization of the defilement case that occurred in Moi Girls High School; 'Teachers: Moi Girls Rape Was All Fiction'.
"It was further horrifying that the Chief Editor of the Standard Newspapers allowed such a headline," the statement signed by Chairperson Josephine Wambua read in part.
[caption caption="FIDA Chairperson Josephine Wambua-Mong'are speaks during a past consultative forum"]
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The lobby group acknowledged that the media house had merely reported findings by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), however, claimed that the headline traumatized students and parents in the country.
"The rights of girls are being violated and their dignity trodden upon under the watch of government officials who are entrusted with protecting these rights.
The women's advocate further expressed discontent with the report, citing that the promises that had been made to residents had not been fulfilled.
"Samples were collected, and speeches were made to Kenyans promising speedy investigations. It is disheartening, that the results have taken this long to be announced and/or culprits to be arrested.
"FIDA Kenya demands the expeditious release of the government report on what happened on the fateful night of the fire incident and the defilement case reported at Moi Girls High School," the statement noted adding that failure to meet the demand would result in legal redress.
The organization further asked the Standard newspaper to issue an apology on the matter.
[caption caption="Sign post outside the Moi Girls School, Nairobi, where a tragic fire killed 15 students and later a student reported a rape incident"]
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