Pressure Mounts for Kenya to Stop Quack “Doctors” Following Rape Arrest

One of Mugo Wairimu’s former patients recalls visiting his
clinic for a pelvic exam. According
to the Daily Beast, he gave her pills that knocked her
unconscious and when she woke up she had no underwear on.

The patient sought help after the assault at a public
hospital and from the police, but she was told that this sort of thing “happens
a lot” and that there was no evidence to assist her.

Although there have been multiple allegations of malpractice
and abuse against Wairimu—who is neither a registered doctor nor nurse—it was
not until his employees caught him on camera raping another patient that
authorities have taken action to stop him.

Wairimu heads to court this week to face the charges against
him. His ob-gyn clinic has been shuttered for being unlicensed, and Kenya’s Serious
Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation from local police.

Quack doctors and unlicensed clinics are not unusual
throughout Kenya due to a lack of governmental regulation and enforcement. The Daily Beast quotes the Center for
Reproductive Rights’ regional director for Africa, Evelyne Opondo:

“It’s
the biggest telling, as far as I’m concerned, that the government has really
failed. The problem is that this is just one thing that someone has come
forward with, but there are many incidents going on where people are
documenting or complaining and there’s no follow-up.”

The Center and our partners are now exploring a civil
lawsuit to hold the Kenyan government accountable for the negligence and
inaction that allowed this situation to occur.

The global community is also rallying to pressure Kenya to
increase government oversight of the provision of medical services.

Help put an end to the widespread blight of quack providers
and unlicensed clinics that are currently endangering the health and safety of
women throughout the country—Sign the petition today!