The Baringo County Director of Gender Youth and Social Services Luka Aengwo has raised concern over surging cases of defilements in the area.
The director, who led a team of Baringo County officials championing the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) noted that the region has recorded more than 150 cases of GBV in the last two years but suspected many others go unreported.
The director made the remarks at Kabarnet Stadium during the ongoing nationwide ceremony to mark l6 days of activism against gender-based violence.
Aengwo feared that many cases remain officially unreported in the region because members of the society were protecting culprits and would prefer to solve them at village level.
He stated that such culprits can be identified in the society if information is promptly availed to the relevant authorities for subsequent action for committing the offences.
“I am urging the security team to work together with chiefs, nyumba kumi elders as well as members of the community so that we can have a harmonious society which is free from the vices,” he said.
Aengwo noted that apart from defilement cases, cases of incest and rape were also reported over the period.
At the same time, he stated that there are men facing GBV but suffer in silence because of culture that depicts the man as masculine, hence reporting GBV is shameful.
“Many men suffer in silence and end up even getting depressed because they imagine that if they report or discuss GBV, or even seek counselling services, they will have broken their social norms,” said the director.
Nominated Member of Baringo County Assembly Elizabeth Kipsang who spoke at the event urged men to open up even if only through professional counseling.
Kipsang, who is also the Assembly’s committee member for Gender urged women to support their husband in family responsibilities to ease their burden of providing for their families.
By Faith Lagat and Wycliffe Kiprop
