MPs reject changes to the Sexual Offences Act

The National Assembly has rejected the controversial Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill that sought to among other things to get rid of court bargains on sexual attacks involving minors.

The Sexual Offences Amendment Bill, 2015, fronted by Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua was voted down in the second reading with majority members being male ganging up to throw out the bill terming the proposed law as punitive and can be used to victimize men.

The Bill further sought to expressly deny plea to sexual offenders on grounds that such cases have been collapsing on basis of lack of evidence, with the sponsor of the Bill saying it becomes difficult for instance to establish where a rape was done.

According to the Bill, unwanted contact between body parts with genital organs (Breast or Buttocks) of another person amounts to a sexual offence.

The Bill had also proposed that sexual offenders be fined Ksh500,000 or jailed for five years or both if found guilty of such acts.

Mutua’s proposed legislation further proposed heavy penalties for anyone who looks at the opposite gender lustfully.

It prescribed a jail term of up to five years for anyone convicted and found guilty.

The Bill also pushed for the establishment of special units as well as officers specifically tasked to conduct investigations relating to sexual offences.