Alarm over increased cases of sexual, gender based violence in Isiolo

Organizations concerned with women issues in Isiolo County have raised the alarm over increase in cases of sexual and gender based violence in homes.

Men are now spending more time with their spouses at home due to the dusk to dawn curfew as well as directives to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel.

Speaking at the Actionaid offices in Isiolo, the manager Teresia Anderson noted that during this pandemic, several people have already lost jobs leading to frustrations which have contributed to a sharp increase in cases of domestic violence.

Teresia noted that apart from physical battering, cases of rape and even female genital mutilation are also on the rise.

She called on members of public to be on the look out for people who perpetuate sexual and gender based violence and report such cases to the police or alternatively send the word ‘SMS HELP’ to 21094 for action to be taken.

The County Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairlady Asli Fayo said that some women were happy to have their men back home early while others are suffering in silence as the people who are supposed to protect them have turned into their chief tormentors.

She called on husbands not to misuse the opportunity accorded to them to spend more time with their spouses to destroy the family fabric through violence and instead show love to their spouses and children amid the tough coronavirus pandemic.

Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti, who chairs the County Emergency Response Committee, also acknowledged that they have been notified of an increase in the number of domestic violence cases.

He called on spouses to embrace more tolerance for each other in order to create a good atmosphere for the family to brace the current tough times.

He also called for community policing structures to ensure that such matters are addressed appropriately.

Report by Moses Mwenda