Nairobi: Nyeri: Children living in slums are more likely to be subjected to gender-based violence (GBV) than those living in formal homes, Nyeri CECM for Gender, Esther Ndung’u has noted. Appearing on GTN TV on Tuesday, Ndung’u blamed poverty and illiteracy for the rising number of cases of children being abused in the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the CECM termed Majengo and Kiawara slums located on the outskirts of Nyeri town as among areas reporting high incidences of GBV being meted against both boys and girls. She said many cases were unreported due to a conspiracy of silence between perpetrators and the parents of victims.
Ndung’u emphasized that when discussing Gender-Based Violence in Nyeri, the focus is now shifting to informal settlements where the practice is becoming more prevalent. She highlighted the need to address this issue and mentioned the department’s intention to visit these slums to engage with teenage mothers on reporting gender-based violence to relevant authorities.
Ndung’u also advised men who feel threatened by their spouses to seek help from relevant authorities, warning that many battered men suffer in silence due to fear of societal stigma. Additionally, she highlighted the role of online cyberbullying in exacerbating the GBV crisis, where underage girls and boys are lured into harmful situations via digital platforms.
To tackle GBV in the county, the government is collaborating with state and non-state actors to develop policies and mechanisms that ensure victims can access care and justice. Since 2021, a Technical Working Group comprising 40 organizations, including judiciary and law enforcement officials, faith-based organizations, and civil societies, has been working to address this challenge.
The group meets quarterly to analyze progress and develop referral pathways that advise victims on medical care and legal redress. Ndung’u mentioned the importance of these efforts in addressing the issue of Gender-Based Violence.
In 2024, a joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODOC) and UN Women revealed alarming statistics on GBV, with 50,000 women and girls killed by intimate partners or family members globally. The report emphasized that homes remain dangerous places for many women and girls, calling for better prevention strategies and criminal justice responses to femicide.
This year’s global campaign, led by UN Women under the ‘UNITE to End Violence against Women initiative,’ focuses on ending digital violence against all women. The campaign, running from November 25 to December 10, aligns with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Human Rights Day, with the theme ‘UNITE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.’
