Vihiga: The Vihiga County Government has intensified efforts to address the rising cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) through a coordinated multi-sectoral approach involving government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and community leaders.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Department of Gender, Culture, Youth and Sports convened an Intergovernmental Gender Sector Working Group meeting to deliberate on the increasing prevalence of SGBV in the county, with Luanda and Hamisi sub-counties identified as areas recording high incidences.
Speaking during the meeting, Vihiga County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Services, Dr. Ruth Agesa, who also chairs the working group, emphasized the need for concerted efforts among stakeholders to curb the vice.
Dr. Agesa called for strengthened advocacy initiatives, intensified public awareness campaigns, enhanced community sensitisation, robust prevention strategies, improved survivor support services, and stronger collaboration among key actors involved in the fight against gender-based violence.
She noted that addressing SGBV requires collective responsibility and sustained engagement at all levels of society to protect vulnerable populations and promote safer communities.
The meeting reviewed ongoing sector programmes and interventions aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence across the county. Participants also assessed emerging GBV trends and the effectiveness of existing response mechanisms.
Deliberations further focused on developing a coordinated advocacy and sensitisation framework targeting identified hotspots, particularly in Luanda and Hamisi sub-counties, where cases have been reported to be on the rise.
Stakeholders also resolved to strengthen partnerships among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and community leaders to enhance prevention efforts and ensure effective support for survivors.
The meeting reaffirmed the County Government’s commitment to fostering a safer and more inclusive society through collective action geared towards preventing and responding to all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
