National Gender and Equality Commission calls for action over hospital assault

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has condemned the alleged sexual assault of a patient at Pandya Memorial Hospital in Mombasa.

In a statement on Tuesday, February 4, the commission urged law enforcement agencies to take swift action against those responsible.

NGEC said the reported assault, allegedly committed by a doctor during dialysis sessions, is a gross violation of human rights, medical ethics, and professional integrity.

"We stand with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) in condemning this incident and demanding urgent action against all those found culpable," said Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa.

According to the survivor’s statement to the police, the doctor sexually harassed her over a period, beginning in late 2024.

She said the harassment included inappropriate conversations, groping, and ultimately rape, despite multiple reports to the hospital management.

FIDA-Kenya accused the hospital of ignoring the victim’s complaints, allowing the abuse to continue.

"Their failure to intervene enabled the crime and showed systemic failure in protecting patients from sexual violence. They aided this crime through indifference and inaction," said FIDA-Kenya.

The organisation has called for the immediate arrest of the accused doctor and for charges against any hospital staff who knew of the abuse but failed to act.

 It also urged the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) to suspend the licenses of all implicated individuals until investigations are complete.

“If found guilty, we demand deregistration of the doctor and nurses involved,” FIDA-Kenya said.

NGEC has urged Pandya Memorial Hospital to establish and enforce a workplace sexual and gender-based violence policy, including strict reporting mechanisms and protection measures for patients and staff.

“The hospital must guarantee transparency in handling this matter and uphold the highest professional standards,” noted Jaldesa.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions have yet to comment on the case.