Nairobi — THE worst drought in decades is exposing Kenyan women to sexual attacks and girls to early marriages and forced labour. Women have been reported to walk long distances to the nearest sources of the means, endangering to sexual perverts lurking along the way. Rights groups reported women were being pressured into sex in exchange of scant water and firewood. Action Aid, the nongovernmental organisation, disclosed the setbacks. An official said women are now left to take care of themselves, children and the elderly as men have migrated to find pasture and water for the livestock. "This makes women vulnerable. There are many protection issues and this drought is impacting the way of life and the family structures." There is pressure on these families and where there are children attending school, girls are being forced to drop out and support families. Some early marriages have been reported in some cases. Child labour is increasing as children are forced to look for work to help their families. In the most severe drought in 60 years, water sources are drying up which is creating anxiety in the East African country of 48 million people.