Opinion: The State Of Sexual And Gender Based Violence In Kenya

Cases of Sexual and Gender Based violence is on the rise in Kenya. Women and girls are the ones who bear the greatest burden of pain and suffering as a result of this. 90 per cent of all reported cases of sexual and gender based violence are reported by women and girls, 10 per cent by men or boys.Cases of violence among men and boys are said to be relatively low although this may be because most of them go unreported mainly out of fear of ridicule and stigmatization.

Culture has been cited as the leading cause of violence against women. It is the Kenyan culture that men are considered superior to women. They are more often referred to as “ The head of the house,” the only person who has the right to make decisions; women’s voices are not to be heard. This can be seen as one of the major contributors in the rising cases of gender based violence, particularly violence against women.

The United Nations defines violence against women as any act of gender- based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

“One in Four women in Kenya has experienced sexual and gender based violence.” According to the Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), one in four Kenyan women (25%) has experienced sexual and gender based violence and 90% of reported perpetrators are men who are known by the victims. 64% of survivor of violence reported that the offenders behind their ordeal were known to them The numbers are staggering by the day and the impact becomes more and more adverse. There is cause for alarm.

Sexual and Gender Based Violence cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, education level, and age. It has the potential to affect women and girls at every point in their lives, from sex-selective infanticide, to child marriage, trafficking, domestic violence, female genital mutilation/cutting, “honor” killings, the neglect and ostracism of widows, sexual violence, rape as a tool of war, and much more. Additionally, women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, with rape and relationship violence contributing to the growing infection rate, especially among adolescents.

What can be done?

To address this issue a number of factors need to be addressed. To begin with women need to be educated against being okay with violence. They need to understand that it is important to speak up against any and all forms of violence. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging the problem. SAY NO TO VIOLENCE.

Second is the provision of treatment facilities closer to the victims. These facilities should be accessible and readily available to the victims whenever they might be in need.

Another very key factor when addressing Sexual Gender Based Violence is reporting of the victims cases to the police officers. Since most of the police officers handling these gender based violence cases are not well trained on handling them with the care and expertise they deserve, there is a need for more training and awareness to be created on the legal framework around sexual gender based violence’s and how the police together with the health care providers can work together with the victims to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

There is also need to engage with men and boys to combat violence against women and girls.

Gender based violence is one of the most violated human rights in the world. It knows no boundaries and continues to take its toll against both women and men. It is upon you and me to speak against it and make sure we don’t become the next victims.