Kitengela: A lobby has trained gender stakeholders on how to handle Gender Based Violence (GBV) victims in Kitengela, Kajiado County. Forum for Women in Development, Democracy and Justice, Project Coordinator, Grace Wanjiru, emphasized the importance of community involvement in addressing GBV to stop the cycle of violence and assist victims effectively.
According to Kenya News Agency, Wanjiru highlighted the societal impact of GBV, noting that children raised in violent environments are likely to perpetuate the cycle of violence. She stressed the need for institutions dealing with GBV to be equipped to assist victims efficiently and establish adequate referral pathways for comprehensive support.
Wanjiru explained that referral pathways are structured methods to help GBV victims by ensuring they access essential services such as medical and legal aid, rescue centers, and psychological support throughout the process. The training session brought together various community stakeholders, including village administrators, chiefs, local leaders, ward administrators, police, religious leaders, and refugee leaders.
Saningo Tatio, a doctor with the Kajiado County government, pointed out existing gaps that GBV victims face when seeking justice, either at hospitals or police stations, which often result in delayed or denied justice. He mentioned that the training also provided stakeholders with the county’s GBV directory, developed by the departments of Health and Gender, containing contact information for assisting all victims, including children, women, and refugees.
Everlyn Makena, a police officer at the Kitengela Police station’s Gender and Children’s desk, expressed gratitude for the training. She noted that she learned essential skills for empathizing with and supporting GBV victims, as well as how to refer them to appropriate help centers according to their needs. Makena urged authorities to equip police stations with the necessary facilities to aid victims effectively.
Makena also encouraged the community to report all GBV cases to the police, assuring them of the police’s dedication to helping victims achieve justice. Additionally, GBV victims are encouraged to use the toll-free helplines 1195 and 1198 for free tele-counseling services.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, 36 percent of women aged 15-49 in Kajiado County have experienced physical violence since age 15, exceeding the national average of 34 percent. The survey also indicates that 25 percent of married women or those with intimate partners in the county have faced various forms of violence in the last year, compared to 28 percent nationally. Furthermore, 9 percent of women in Kajiado within the same age range have suffered sexual violence in the past year, surpassing the national average of 7 percent. The survey reveals that 37 percent of women who have ever been married or had an intimate partner have experienced violence from their most recent partners.