Alarm as GBV and rape cases in Kiambu rise to third highest in the country

Gender-based violence (GBV) and rape cases in Kiambu County have risen to alarming levels raising concern among lawmakers and humanitarian organizations.

Data compiled from national hotline 1195 shows that Kiambu has the third highest rates after Nairobi and Kisumu counties.

“There is a huge need to train our police. Most of the cases which are reported are few because majority of people do not want to report rape and GBV cases because at times they feel it is humiliating. We need to create a friendly police environment by creating gender desks,” Gatundu North MP Anne Wanjiku Kibe said.

Kiambu Women Rep Gathoni Wamuchomba reiterated her sentiments saying there is need for adequate legislation to counter the vice.

Wamuchomba also noted that most of the perpetrators engage in the vice while under the influence of drugs and this underlying factor should also be addressed.

According to Groots Kenya, while GBV did not start with the onset of COVID-19, many homes that are supposed to serve as safe spaces are the ones posing danger to women and girls.

The organization that works with women-led community-based groups further lamented over lack of functional State-run shelters despite Kiambu having the third highest cases of GBV and rape.

In July this year, Gender CS Margaret Kobia called for a multi-sectorial partnership approach in ending increasing cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the country.

“Its multi-faceted nature lends itself to a multi-sectoral approach involving several stakeholders,” said Kobia.

This followed revelations of high prevalence of GBV cases in Nairobi, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Kiambu counties in July 2020.

Reporting of GBV cases was found to be minimal in Isiolo, Samburu, Tharaka-Nithi, Garissa, and Marsabit.

The Cabinet Secretary said such a partnership approach would address the harmful social and cultural norms that promote the vice at individual, institutional and community levels.

While noting that men and boys need to be included in interventions, Kobia said this will also lead to accountability and enforcement of legislation as well as policies for the speedy prosecution of perpetrators.