Residents, during a public participation gathering in Ol kalou organized by the Presidential Technical Working Group on gender public Based Violence, have called for establishment of a safe house for victims of GBV in Nyandarua County.
Gloria Wawira a member of the technical working group said the residents also called for the government to allocate more funds meant for the fight against both femicide and GBV.
Ipato Osuru, another participant said cases of teenage pregnancy, incest, battering and some cases of femicide are rampant in the County
Osuru, who is the chair of Anti-FGM Board, cited female genital mutilation as another form of GBV that was rampant in Nyandarua.
Osuru noted that the 2022 Kenya Demographic and household Survey put the prevalence of FGM in Nyandarua at 6.9 percent of total County population; a percentage she said shows many women and girls were still undergoing FGM in Nyandarua.
Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisak Jaldesa said national government administrative officers have been instructed to give priority to anti GBV and femicide in their areas as a way of containing the vice.
Betty Muchina of End Femicide Kenya movement said femicide should be made a stand-alone criminal act adding that femicide is not recognized in the Penal Code cap 63 and those who commit it are either charged with murder or manslaughter.
“At times the villains get lenient sentences. So, we are asking the government to criminalize femicide and have its own place in the Penal Code,” Muchina said as well as calling for creation of safe houses complete with counsellors that will provide support to survivors of GBV.
Ejidia Njeri from Mirangine Sub County also supported creation of safe houses for victims and also urged for police facilities to have gender desks manned by compassionate officers.
Speaking on behalf of PWDs, Evaline Gathiru said there was still marginalization of people with disabilities when they become victims of GBV since police stations and hospitals lack sign language interpreters who can be assisting deaf victims of gender violence.
Njoki Muiruri of National Government Affirmative Action Fund office in Nyandarua called for revising of various laws to strengthen fight against GBV and femicide.
She also called for revision of Sexual Offences Act to include femicide and technology facilitated gender-based violence and amendment of Children Act, 2001 to strengthen protection of child victims of gender violence noting that the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, 2015 should be fully operationalized.
Muiruri called for support for survivors of GBV to be enhanced through operationalization of the Victim Protection and Legal Aid Fund to enhance provision of legal assistance and compensation.
By Kimani Tirus
