Machakos County in Kenya has reported 1,077 cases of GBV this year due to the increasing number of the same and femicide cases in the country.
Machakos County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki announced efforts to combat GBV surge and establish systems to protect women from violence at the end of 16-day activism against GBV.
Unfortunately, he added that there are also 112 reported cases of teenage pregnancies in Machakos this year, where Matungulu and Masinga Sub counties are at the forefront, a situation that needs to be dealt with before it gets any worse.
Ndambuki, representing the Governor Wavinya Ndeti, attributed teenage pregnancies to societal backwardness and regression, hindering development and economic empowerment in the county.
The County secretary pointed out that this year’s theme being “Ending violence against women is possible but only if we act together now,” he said, adding “These statistics are not pleasing and the trend must be reversed at all costs.”
The plan is to combat femicide, teenage pregnancies, and GBV by advising Machakos residents against forming local committees to solve GBV cases and encouraging women to report to the police.
“We must discourage the practice of forming village committees and kangaroo courts to resolve disputes arising from GBV and teenage pregnancy and report all cases to the police,” advised the County Secretary.
The County government has made significant progress in supporting GBV victims by constructing a modern GBV center at People’s Park in Machakos for housing and rehabilitation purposes.
By Allan Maina and Anne Kangero
