Bungoma: The Presidential Technical Working Group (TWG) on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has expressed concern that some parents engage their daughters in hawking businesses in major towns which exposes the girls to defilement and early pregnancies.
According to Kenya News Agency, the team, during a Public Participation forum chaired by Linah Kilimo, also noted instances where young girls were employed to serve illicit brew in local alcohol dens. This employment is contributing significantly to teenage pregnancies and the erosion of moral values.
The forum, held at the Red Cross office in Kanduyi, allowed the team to gather public submissions on the causes of GBV in the area. It was revealed that Bungoma County leads in GBV cases in the country at 62 percent. The team urged a review of certain cultural practices that hinder the fight against GBV in the county.
Additionally, the team called for a curriculum review during the seclusion period of boys post-circumcision, as some inculcated values foster disrespect towards females in society. Kilimo highlighted public submissions indicating that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) continues in some areas of Mt Elgon Sub-county, despite a declared cessation by local elders.
Bungoma Deputy Governor Jenepher Mbatiany urged residents to focus on changing mindsets concerning GBV issues. She emphasized the reality and generational threat of GBV cases in the area, calling for collective efforts in combating the vice and highlighting the community's role in addressing it.