There is an urgent need for relevant stakeholders and organizations in Murang’a County to employ various measures to curtail increased cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
This comes after a Demographic and Health Survey 2022 report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicated that 54 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in Murang’a have ever experienced physical violence. The percentage is too high as compared to the national average of 34 percent.
Murang’a County Statistics Officer Lillian Wanjiku speaking during the dissemination of the survey at the county level observed that in the year 2022, 22 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in the county experienced physical violence.
“The 22 percent in Murang’a was high as compared to 16 percent of women who experienced physical violence in the same year nationally,” said the officer.
She added that women who ever experienced sexual violence in Murang’a were 24 percent as compared to the national rate of 13 percent.
“In 2022 the rate of women who experienced sexual violence was at the rate of 14 percent as compared to the countrywide rate of 7 percent. This shows some issues need to be addressed to reduce gender-based violence especially committed against women,” explained Wanjiku.
She continued “With dissemination of this survey, it’s an eye-opener to relevant stakeholders to embrace various measures which will see reduction of these physical and sexual violence in the county.”
Wanjiku further said according to the survey, 43 percent of women who ever experienced physical, sexual and psychological violence was initiated by the husband or intimate partner.
“This indicates the majority of GBV cases are done at domestic level thus the need for various interventions to curb the violence in our families,” she added.
The dissemination of the survey by KNBS comes when the world marks the 16 days of activism against sexual and gender-based violence in the society which runs from November 25 to December 10.
Elsewhere, members of the Association of Women Judges, Mount Kenya chapter paid a visit to women convicts in Murang’a prisons.
The judges led by Justice Cecilia Gathua said they are working on various strategies to root out factors that aid gender-based violence in the community.
Gathua observed there are various issues like gender stereotypes, and cultural orientation among others that are fueling violence in families and the community saying as an association they have embarked on educating and enlightening women about their rights and steps to take to seek justice when they experience violence.
The women judges noted that they will be visiting various women prisons and giving hope as well as educate the convicts about ways to curb gender-based violence.
By Bernard Munyao
