Kajiado: Stakeholders in the gender sector in Kajiado county have called for concerted efforts to end the rising cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV). Speaking during a sensitization forum on GBV organized by the Gender Violence and Recovery Centre (GVRC) with support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), County Gender Officer, Catherine Mutinda revealed that the rising cases of GBV was a cause for concern and urgent action needed to be taken to stop the trend.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 reported that 36% of women aged 15-49 years in Kajiado County have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, which is higher than the national average of 34%. Additionally, 37% of married women or those with intimate partners in the county have faced various forms of violence, compared to 28% nationally. Furthermore, 9% of women in Kajiado aged 15-49 have experienced sexual violence, exceeding the national average of 7%. The report also revealed that 92 teenage girls were impregnated through sexual violence in 2023, and 10 young girls were rescued from forced marriages.
Mutinda reiterated that both men and women are affected by GBV with women bearing the biggest brunt. A report from the Kajiado County Referral Hospital’s Gender-Based Violence and Recovery Centre revealed that between December 2021 and December 2023, 436 SGBV survivors were treated. In 2023 alone, 145 SGBV cases were reported, with 13 involving men.
The Gender officer further noted that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is Sexual Based Gender Violence, was also still rampant in the county. Mutinda said many cases of GBV go unreported due to fear of stigma and ostracization from the community, enabling the vice to thrive. She called on the public to report any cases of GBV to ensure that those affected get help and action is taken against the perpetrators.
According to Programs Officer, Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), Dilex Jepchirchir, the public can report cases of GBV anonymously through helpline numbers 1195 and 116. Jepchirchir emphasized the importance of community-driven initiatives in tackling Gender-based violence, adding that the forums provide a vital platform for the community to engage in meaningful discussions on the challenges and solutions to GBV.
She noted that the collective efforts of both the community and the government are crucial to bringing about real change and at the same time advocate for the protection and empowerment of the most vulnerable in society. Jepchirchir called on GBV victims to always seek help and report abuse to the police for action to be taken against the perpetrators. She revealed that the Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kajiado County Referral Hospital offers free medical and psychosocial support to SGBV survivors and aids in collecting and preserving forensic evidence for legal proceedings.
