Women’s Safety:
“Women, more than men, suffer the indignity of being forced to defecate in the open at risk of assault or rape.” – Women in focus discussion group in Kibera February 2014
Urban to rural migration has led to major growth of informal settlements such as Kibera. Women and men both strive to seek improved economic situations, yet women are more often the ones who face greater risks to their well-being. According to a 2006 study commissioned by the World Bank; Slum dwellers, specifically women, have the highest rates of unemployment. Access to adequate infrastructure is a basic need, yet many women in Kibera faced with the threat of sexual violence when travelling long distances to relieve themselves. This deters many women from travelling to public facilities, often resorting to flying toilets. These have become a phenomenon in Kibera. The process involves defecating into plastic bags and discarding them, further exacerbating the spread of disease. Having to walk long distances, especially during the night, has exposed women to countless cases of sexual abuse by groups of men.
Via Flickr
One would assume a simple solution to this issue is toilets within closer proximity, yet this imposes a great financial burden. Every use of a community toilet costs Kshs 5 which is $0.064 US . With large families the costs would be detrimental to those living in Kibera. Having to access these facilities with the company of a man or other women in fear of rape is not the answer (KENYA Sanitation: “Flying-Toilets” insulate women from rape, 2010).
Women’s Awareness and Education:
Many women feel that being vocal about sexual violence will not be of any assistance. There is often fear of a repeated attack, and threats from their attackers. Women also state that they did not feel that there was an adequate police presence in the slums and that if they reported a case of rape, they would not be taken seriously enough. The scarcity of a police presence is due to the fact that the government neglects to implement the required resources for slum development and planning.
Via Flickr
KENYA Sanitation: ‘Flying-toilets’ insulate women from rape (2010) Available at: https://womennewsnetwork.net/2010/12/27/kenya-flying-toilets-women/ (Accessed: 14 March 2017).
Amnesty International (2009) The women of Kibera. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaamPV4YDHU (Accessed: 14 March 2017).