Bomet County Government has unveiled a policy aimed at addressing gender-based violence in the County with Governor Prof. Hilary Barchok calling on the County Assembly to enact legislation that will curb increased societal vices.
“I am still perturbed by the recent sexual gender based violence case involving a 10-year old girl who was molested by a close family member,” Governor Barchok said Tuesday as he opened the first session of the third Bomet County Assembly.
The Governor said as he mourned the girl who died as a result of the molestation “no child should have to undergo such atrocities from the people entrusted to take care of them.”
She died at a Nairobi hospital due to complications she developed after being defiled by her uncle.
He said there has been a 5.3 per cent increase in the number of sexual based gender violence in the County saying “such barbaric acts do not have a place in our society. This is unacceptable.” Governor Barchok said.
While indicating that he had formed a gender technical committee to work with County Officials in stemming GBV, the Governor called on security agents and the judiciary to expedite delivery of justice for the girl’s family.
He said the committee was tasked to assess health facilities’ readiness to handle GBV cases, oversee the management of rescue centres and facilitate the training of first responders’ service providers.
As he called on the 38 members of the County Assembly to join hands in protecting the vulnerable members of the society and preserve the dignity of women and girls, Prof Barchok encouraged victims to come up, speak and to report cases of sexual violence to the police or gender and social services officials in the County.
At the same time, he lauded partners such as the Kenya Red Cross Society of Kenya who he observed had worked with County officials in sensitizing the public on sexual and gender based violence.
By Kipngeno Korir
