200M spent annually on Gender based violence- report

200M spent annually on Gender based violence- report

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has said that the country uses over Ksh200m annually to support and treat victims of gender based violence (GBV).

The Commission said that the figures could be higher than that, noting that the number of unreported cases is also on the incline.

According to the chair of the commission Winfred Lichuma, cases of GBV were on the rise in the country mainly in the rural with close relatives being the main players.

Lichuma attributed the rise of cases to awareness among victims who were coming up to report the case and praised the media for the playing part in the process.

“The country is using an estimated Sh200m to rescue, treat, maintain and seek legal address for victims of gender based violence,” she said.

Lichuma termed the judiciary and the government chemist as the weakest link in the fight against GBV.

She said that due to lack of funds, the government chemist was unable to produce analysis of exhibits in court in time leading to dismissal of cases.

“We have seen courts issue questionable and weak sentences despite enough evidence and this is affecting the fight against gender based violence,” she said.

The chairlady said the commission was ready and willing to work with the two arms of the government so that the cases could be reduced.

Lichuma was speaking at Simba Lodge in Naivasha during the launch of the campaign ‘County to County- Keep the promise- to end GBV’.

She noted that cases of families withdrawing GBV cases from courts so as to negotiate with elders were also on the rise.

During the function, the chair pointed to flower farms in Naivasha as the ones leading in terms of sexual abuse and GBV around the lakeside town.

“We are currently conducting a study which indicates that cases of gender based violence mainly targeting minor is very high around flower farms in Naivasha,” she said.

She challenged the Nakuru County government to help build more shelter for abused families which were on the rise.

The commission director of programmes Jackie Nekesa said that there was need to strengthen infrastructure of GBV protection and abuse.

“We should be pro-active in dealing with the violence and there is need to strengthen implementation of legislative policies and regulatory framework,” she said.

Tags:

gender based violence Winfred Lichuma The National Gender and Equality Commission

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories