Local leaders, civil rights organisations and human rights activists in Kericho have called on the government to step up and support the sensitisation of members of the public and communities on the dangers of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide cases, which are on the rise in Kericho County.
The leaders told the Presidential Working Group (TWG) on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including femicide, which was sitting on Friday in Kericho to collect views from the public on how to fight the vice and reduce the incidences of GBV, which is on the rise in the area.
Speaking at the forum, Chemosit ward Member of County Assembly Mrs Anita Biegon told the GBV team, which was being headed by Ms Gloria Waweru, that the government should set up specialised courts specifically meant to handle and address Gender Based Violence cases in the country.
Mrs. Biegon said that through the reports and final recommendations from the Presidential Working Group, the government should consider setting up a kitty to help and support GBV victims in order to get medical treatment and justice from the courts among other assistance.
The MCA called for the empowerment of chiefs and members of ‘Nyumba Kumi’ as they are potential advocates of the anti GBV and femicide issues in the villages where the vice is rife in the localities.
Various speakers at the forum called for the establishment of a rescue centre in every county to help protect and attend to the GBV victims. They also called for separate report desks to be established in all police stations and to be manned well by trained officers, especially on gender issues. They said through this initiative many victims will get assistance.
Winny Ngeno, a civil rights group advocate in Kericho, called for the introduction of GBV curricula in the Competence Based Curricula (CBC) at the primary school level to help educate both the boys and girls on the dangers of GBV. This, she said, will inculcate knowledge to the youngsters to discover and know their rightful place and expectations as they grow.
Ms. Ngeno also suggested that alternative rite of passage training be incorporated in the circumcision training schedules for boys in order to widen their understanding of girls’ and women’s roles in society and how to relate with them as men.
During the function, the Presidential Working Group (TWG) team leader, Gloria Waweru, assured the participants, who included members of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), religious leaders, and the youth, that their views and suggestions they received from them would be looked into with a view to forming the final blueprint document to help in managing and containing GBV issues in the county.
Ms. Waweru gave out the telephone hotline to the public to enable them to report cases of GBV in the localities; the telephone hotline is 1195.
Others present at the function were the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) in the office of the Kericho County Commissioner, Mr. Anthony Kirui, and Kericho East DCC Kibe Maguta.
By Dominic Cheres
