Across section of leaders who graced the burial of a woman killed by her husband during a tragic domestic altercation now want stern action taken against perpetrators of femicide and Gender Based Violence in the country.
Led by the Gender and Affirmative Action PS Anne Wang’ombe and her Economic and Planning counterpart Boniface Makokha, while speaking in the Budokomi area in Busia County during the burial of the late Susan Nambire, the leaders expressed fears that failure to address such a crisis through a collective interventions approach to the root cause of the problem was likely to expose more women and girls.
However, Wang’ombe assured that the government was determined to end GBV and called for everyone to be part of the fight.
“We have to change the narrative of the increased GBV cases in Busia County. I want all youth to be our ambassadors to help protect our girls and women. Let’s decide today as youth that we are not going to harm our girls and wives,” she said.
The Gender PS called for the shift from response to prevention as a way of ensuring no harm is done to the lives of people.
“We cannot continue to bury our young girls. Let the parents take part in the lives of their children. Let’s ensure that before we allow them to marry, they are mature enough to make better decisions. If you see a problem, you can report it to our help line, which is 1195, so that you can be assisted,” she said.
On his part, Makokha asked men to stand up to defend the rights of women to end domestic violence and GBV.
“As men we need to start a movement in Busia called ‘He or She’ so that we can stand there for our mothers, women and girls and ensure that this problem comes to an end. We cannot continue to stay in such situations,” the PS said.
Busia women representative Catherine Omanya called on all men to help in empowering women, adding that the judicial system should ensure there is no compromise in cases involving women who are killed.
“If you are a man with a wife, be a pillar of empowerment to her. Where are our aunts, uncles and grandparents to help us with guidance and morals so that we stop beating and killing our women? Kindly wake up!
“There is no shame in a marriage that is not working. If things are not working, get out before you die,” she said.
Omanyo asked the youth to ensure they mature before they get married, arguing that the move will help them in having a candid discussion when a problem arises and be able to solve it amicably.
Kajiado County Women representative Leah Sankaire said it is time for everyone to wake up and defend women.
She also called for alternative ways of solving problems in marriage when they arise, other than ending someone’s life.
“Susan was a visionary woman, but today we are burying her, leaving behind a one-year-old child. This is so disheartening. As women leaders, we are tired of femicide and GBV cases, and that’s why we are saying that if you see your marriage is hitting the rocks, it’s better to leave in peace than in pieces.”
Sankaire asked the society to embrace the empowerment of women, stating that this has remained the problem among men in the society.
“Women today have been empowered and are able to do great things. This has been seen as competition to men in the society. Let’s give them a chance to help us and not consider them as our competitors. Any time you feel threatened in your marriage, walk out to avoid being killed,” she said.
Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Odera said the county has established a rescue centre that will ensure GBV victims get assistance as the legal process takes its course.
“We must protect our family too; if there is a problem in your marriage, try to solve it so that life can move on. If there is abuse in that marriage, we are telling you to move out.
It is the duty of all of us to protect women. Let’s be tolerant; let’s involve the relatives and family members in finding solutions to our problems,” he said.
The family of the deceased called for justice, even as they asked the government to ensure the suspect faces full force of the law.
By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
