IN a Nairobi slum named Korogocho, which means “crowded shoulder to shoulder” in Swahili, a group of women navigate raw sewage and sharp metal edges of roofing to attend a training they hope might save their lives.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone, and the women are determined to fight back. Aged 60 to well over 90, they meet every Thursday afternoon to practice taekwondo.
Class is serious. Late arrivals are ordered to do sit-ups and jumping jacks as punishment, said the group’s chairwoman and lead trainer, Jane Waithageni Kimaru.
The slum is home to many widows and single mothers. Some have felt especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Kenyan authorities have reported that cases of sexual violence have risen. The health ministry said it has received reports of at least 5,000 such cases across the country, often in poor areas. Officials say in many cases the perpetrators are
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