The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) Chairperson, Rehema Jaldesa has called for urgent collective action to combat the rising instances of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kenya.
In her speech delivered by the commission’s CEO Dr. Purity Ngina during a public meeting with leaders and residents of Taita Taveta County at Voi Youth Center aimed at addressing rising cases of GBV, Jaldesa highlighted the alarming statistics from the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, which paint a grim picture of GBV across the country.
She noted that in Taita Taveta County, 14% of women aged 15 to 49 reported experiencing physical violence, while 30% reported sexual violence.
Other counties, including Murang’a, Migori, and Meru, recorded even higher rates, with figures as high as 54% for sexual violence.
“In the recent times, we have witnessed disturbing trends and upsurge of gender-based violence including the killing of women because of their gender and that is what we call homicide.
Women and girls have died as a result of homicide and I gave statistics of 97 women and girls who have been killed in the past three months.
These statistics are of October 2024. So, we don’t know what happened in November and December. These statistics show that we must act now. We cannot remain silent while our communities are plagued by such atrocities,” read the speech.
In addition to these alarming statistics, Jaldesa highlighted the increasing prevalence of technology-facilitated GBV, where women and girls are being harassed, abused, or even murdered after encounters initiated online.
She pointed to several tragic incidents, including the deaths of young women such as a social media influencer and a 23-year-old university student, which emphasizes the growing threat posed by digital platforms.
“No one, regardless of our social class, education or residence are safe from this growing threat. Now, we must strategize on how do we combat gender-based violence effectively and efficiently by investing in the prevention and responsibility,” Jaldesa stated in her speech.
The NGEC chairperson urged county governments, faith-based organizations, and community groups to work together to create awareness campaigns, provide support for survivors, and invest in preventive measures.
She commended Taita Taveta County for its commitment to constructing a center for survivors of GBV, which will offer mental health support and other essential services.
Jaldesa announced that the commission is organizing a male-focused engagement to better understand the role of men in GBV prevention and response. She emphasized that addressing harmful cultural norms and involving men in conversations about gender equality is critical to creating safer communities.
Addressing the press during the meeting at Voi Youth Center, Dr. Ngina echoed her sentiments, giving alarming statistics and urged all stakeholders to collaborate in combating the growing menace.
The CEO revealed that recent statistics indicate troubling trends. According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, 18% of girls in Taita Taveta County became mothers before the age of 18, and 30% of women have experienced physical violence.
She emphasized that these issues contribute to femicide, which remains a significant concern.
According to her, the commission is conducting a week-long community engagement campaign in counties with high GBV rates, including Taita Taveta, Murang’a, Meru, Bomet, and Migori.
Dr. Ngina explained that these counties were selected based on data and online conversations about GBV.
“I believe every community has a solution to its problems. It cannot only be the government speaking about GBV; it requires concerted efforts. That’s why we are here. Also, as a county, the commission interacts with the leadership of the county because they are elected by members of the community to protect them and speak for them,” she stated.
During her visit, Dr. Ngina held discussions with Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, the county commissioner, other leaders in the county and the residents to develop strategies for prevention and timely response to GBV cases.
She commended the involvement of local leaders and representatives from the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, highlighting the importance of political goodwill.
“The president demonstrated commitment by allocating Sh100 million for safe spaces and forming a technical working group on GBV,” she noted adding that, “Is it enough? The only time we can say it’s enough is only when we address this matter once and for all and I think the task force and the technical working group has a big responsibility to give us a lasting solution to this issue.”
Dr. Ngina called on the media to amplify awareness campaigns, emphasizing their role in reaching all Kenyans.
“If we continue creating awareness, we can achieve zero GBV cases by the end of 2025. Communities must also commit to eradicating harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM),” she said.
According to a 2023 report, over 500 women were killed due to GBV-related incidents over a five-year period.
In addition to the fight against GBV, Dr. Ngina was optimistic that by 2026, the fight against FGM will be successful stating that already there are policies and legal frameworks to address the menace.
“Next year in 2026, we thought we can eliminate FGM. There are policies, the legal frameworks are there. It is now the community to also pronounce themselves and say that as a community we are not going to take our girls for any cut,” she added.
By Arnold Linga Masila