By M, KNA
Gender rights advocates in Laikipia County have called for involvement of men, to help in the fight against the rising cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
The activists who spoke at Marura Village in Laikipia North Sub-county, said engaging men and training them to be first responders in the villages, would greatly assist in reducing incidents of Female Genital Mutilation, child marriages, defilement and other related vices.
“Our goal is to reduce SGBV cases, which range from physical to psychological. As men , we should support women,” said Reverend Charles Njogu from ‘Men for women’ movement in the County.
According to a women rights defender, Lucy Njoki, Laikipia North Sub-county, has been identified as a SGBV hotspot where the vices normally escalate during festive seasons. Njoki regretted that many girls for instance end-up undergoing the cut secretly during festive seasons.
“We have witnessed many rapes and defilement incidents in Marura village, and we are holding community dialogues to find out the root causes aimed to eradicate the vices . Sensitizing the community is a step towards zero tolerance of SGBV incidents ,” she said.
Njoki called for government’s intervention in speeding-up the conclusion of SGBV cases in Laikipia County.
During the launch of 16-days of Activism against SGBV last month at Kimanjo market in Laikipia North Sub-county, Anti-FGM CEO ,Bernadette Loloju, said FGM prevalence rate in the region currently stood at 80percent.
Loloju called for cooperation amongst government agencies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in protecting minors during the long Christmas holiday.
The gender activists were speaking during a meeting to review the trends of SGBV cases in Laikipia under the umbrella of Groots Kenya, an organization that works towards grass root women empowerment.
