Kabianga University students joined gender activists in a walk from Kabianga to Kericho town to sensitise the public on human rights in the call for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Speaking while presenting a report to the office of the County Commissioner, Dr. Phanice Mwangila from the University of Kabianga, who spearheaded the exercise, noted that among the GBV issues was the inadequate safety of victims of sexual and gender-based violence before and after prosecution of the perpetrators.
Mwangila was concerned that some community leaders, including chiefs and village elders, perpetrated GBV by tolerating the vices or resolving the vices in favour of the culprits, leaving the victims traumatised and depressed.
Dr. Mwangila urged the government to fast-track the availability of necessary infrastructure, which includes county hotlines, to enable victims to report GBV cases efficiently.
“It’s time we take action and end gender-based violence, especially amongst women and children in our county,” stressed Dr. Mwangila.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that commences annually on November 25th, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10th, which is Human Rights Day.
This year’s theme is “elimination of violence against the vulnerable in society for a peaceful coexistence.”
By Kibe Mburu and James Kipees
