Vihiga County Government has embarked on the process of drafting gender and children’s policies in a bid to foster the welfare of the interest groups.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for social services and gender Mulongo Onzere said they want the policies formulated so that a budgetary allocation of funds is done to tackle gender issues.
Onzere said the process started last year and they want it fast-tracked to provide a framework for handling Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and children rights. He was speaking during the stakeholders meeting during which the drafts were presented and deliberated upon.
The County Director of Children Services (CDCS) Aggrey Ambwaya stated that the children suffer neglect, violence and lack of basic needs. He said cases of little girls being sexually abused are rampant in the county and in some instances the perpetrators are the parents and guardians.
Ambwaya pointed out that they decided to draft the two policies concurrently because gender and children issues often overlap. He disclosed that the documents are expected to be ready for launching by the month of May this year.
By Sammy Mwibanda
