Vihiga: Vihiga County has taken a bold step in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) with the opening of a functional Rescue and Recovery Centre in Sabatia sub-county. The facility, located at Vokoli in Wodanga ward, becomes the second of its kind in the Lake Region after Kisumu, with Homa Bay set to follow.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative was funded through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), under the patronage of the County Women Representative Beatrice Adagala. The centre is designed to provide a safe haven for survivors of abuse, offering shelter, medical care, counselling, legal assistance, and even skills training to help them rebuild their lives.
Speaking during the launch, Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichillo described the day as historic, noting that the idea had been in the pipeline for nearly a decade. He expressed concern that Vihiga ranks among the top three counties with the highest prevalence of GBV in Kenya, calling for urgent preventive measures. The governor linked the rising cases of abuse to alcoholism and drug abuse, urging for cooperation with NACADA to curb the menace.
The governor further tasked National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) including chiefs, as well as ward administrators to map out hotspots and provide weekly reports on chang’aa dens across the county. Johnstone Kuya, in charge of Strategic partnership at the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya, lauded the county leadership for ensuring the centre was operational.
UNDP Kenya Project Manager, Mohammed Jaafar praised the deliberate planning behind the initiative and called for teamwork. County Commissioner Florence Sitawa emphasized that the fight against GBV must involve the entire community. The centre comes at a critical time when Vihiga is grappling with alarming levels of teenage pregnancy, incest, and other forms of abuse. Officials say these issues are not only straining families but also threatening the county’s future.
The new facility is expected to play a central role in reversing the trend by offering survivors a lifeline and helping the community find sustainable solutions. The launch brought together a wide range of stakeholders including government officials, development partners, and other community leaders.
