A Murang’a-based bishop has challenged churches across the country to break their silence and take a leading role in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The bishop warned that continued inaction is allowing the vice to thrive within communities.
Bishop John Waweru, the founder of Share the Love Church, said religious institutions must use their moral authority and wide influence to confront GBV, which continues to affect women, men and children across Kenya.
He noted that despite frequent reports of violent incidents, churches have remained largely quiet, leaving the responsibility of advocacy to human rights activists and civil society organisations.
Speaking during the church’s annual convention in Murang’a, Bishop Waweru said the church must step up as a social watchdog and actively engage in advocacy efforts alongside the government and other stakeholders.
“Gender-based violence requires a multi-sectoral approach, but the church cannot afford to sit back.
Its voice is powerful and can influence behaviour and bring about lasting change,” he said.
The bishop emphasised that churches command a large following and should use their platforms to openly condemn violence, educate congregants and promote accountability within communities.
He observed that both perpetrators and victims of GBV often come from the same places of worship.
“The people seated in our pews are the same ones either committing these acts or falling victim to them. Silence from the church only allows the violence to continue unchecked,” he stated.
Bishop Waweru also raised concern over alleged corruption within the justice system, saying it continues to deny GBV victims justice.
He accused some law enforcement and judicial officers of colluding with perpetrators and other enablers, allowing suspects to evade punishment.
“This is a serious concern because we hear of cases disappearing once money changes hands, leaving victims without justice and discouraging others from reporting,” he said.
His remarks come at a time when the country is witnessing a worrying rise in GBV cases, some of them fatal, despite intensified campaigns and public awareness efforts aimed at curbing the vice.
Murang’a County Gender-Based Violence Coordinator Patrick Kariuki recently underscored the urgency of collective action, noting that the county ranks second nationally in the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence.
“Young people are the most affected, and Murang’a continues to record high numbers of reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence,” Kariuki said.
He explained that GBV is largely driven by power imbalances and manifests in both traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, as well as emerging forms, including online and digital violence.
Kariuki urged residents to report all forms of violence to the relevant authorities, support survivors and ensure victims receive timely medical attention and psychosocial care.
He called on religious institutions, community leaders, government agencies and civil society organisations to take a more vocal and proactive role in preventing sexual and gender-based violence and protecting vulnerable members of society.
By Purity Mugo
