Nakuru: Nakuru Women Representative Liza Chelule MP has raised alarm over increased cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the region, asserting that the trend was ruining the future of schoolgoing girls due to defilement. The MP was speaking as she distributed bursary cheques worth Sh13.8 million to over 1,380 students through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) to offset part of their school fees.
According to Kenya News Agency, Chelule regretted that the community has slowly resorted to kangaroo courts on GBV cases after they realised the harsh penalties from the courts of justice. She cautioned men against engaging in affairs with schoolgirls, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the minors’ lives and the legal consequences that would follow. Chelule urged the community to allow girls to focus on their education, which she described as a lasting form of empowerment.
Nakuru NGAAF fund manager Daniel Njogu supported Chelule’s sentiments, highlighting their commitment to preventing school dropouts due to lack of fees or teenage pregnancies. Njogu announced the distribution of sanitary pads to schoolgirls to ensure consistent attendance.
Parents benefiting from the programme, including Elizabeth Ngathoka and Muchira Kamau, expressed gratitude for the assistance, noting its importance as many students struggled to return to school due to financial constraints.
