Kiambu County has reported about 137 new cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), representing 34 percent of all the cases reported nationally according to a report by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC).
The report shows an eight-fold surged of SGBV reported cases not only in Kiambu county, but in the whole county as well, having about 2,466 cases in 2016 to 20,053 in 2023
The United Nations defines Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) as any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting
According to Marion Mashoo -NSDCC Regional HIV Coordinator, Sexual violence not only violates an individual’s rights but also heightens the risk of HIV infection and unintended pregnancies.
“Kenya is committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat and addressing all forms of Sexual and Gender- Based Violence (SGBV) by 2030 to accomplish this the government has partnered and is continuing to call upon all relevant stakeholders in government and private sectors fight the menace,” said Mashoo while attending a SGNBV technical working committee meeting held in Ruiru Sub county
The NSDCC Regional HIV Coordinator in charge of Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajaido counties further said there is a big correlation between SGBV cases, HIV infections and unintended pregnancies hence the surge of any of these can hinder the national agenda of ending HIV in 2030.
She cited that there has been a rise in cases of SGBV in last seven years in the country, with Kiambu county reporting 18 cases only in 2016 against 137 cases in 2023
“Thika sub county topped the list of reported SGBV cases in Kiambu county at 52 percent, followed by Githunguri 26.7 percent and Kiambu at 20 percent other are Juja, Lari and Limuru all at 16 percent while the rest reported less than 5 percent of all SGBV cases reported in the county” stated Mashoo
On her part Olympia Karimi the director state department of Gender said who led the Kiambu county SGNBV-TWG meeting held at Rainbow resort in Ruiru said the county has made strides in coming up with SGBV reporting, monitoring and evaluation framework that have since influence quick response of SGBV cases in the county
“Since we launched the data collection late last year, we have been able to get more comprehensive data which guides our actions” said Karimi
Karimi said the tool has also helps in identifying the regions that need more involvement and sensitization these ensuring that everybody in the county is accounted for
“With such interventions being implemented and partnerships with relevant stakeholders in our community we are positive that the numbers of SGBV cases will start to go down” cited the county Director for Gender
According to National Syndemic Disease Control Council 2019 survey, 46% of women and 52% of men aged 18-24 in Kenya reported experiencing at least one form of violence during their childhood, also in the last 7 years (2016 to 2023), the proportion of reported sexual and gender-based violence cases perpetrated against children and adolescents aged 10-17 is relatively high at 42% (87,500).
By Grace Naishoo