The gender desk officer at Iten police station, Sergeant Serah Kogo has urged victims of intimate partner violence to report such incidents to the police.
The desk officer stated that while defilement, rape, and other Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases are reported to the police, intimate partner violence cases go unreported.
Speaking during a football tournament organized by the Gender Recovery Centre (GRC) to create awareness of GBV among the youth, Sgt. Kogo said though the violence occurs in the privacy of the homes the same can be prosecuted.
“People often hesitate to report cases due to lack of witnesses, but I assure them that we will prosecute and ensure justice for survivors,” she said
The Sgt. Kogo emphasised that men are also experiencing GBV, yet they don’t report it, and thus she encouraged them to reach out to the gender desk, which has both male and female officers.
Joel Mureithi from the GRC stated that the youth were involved in the tournament as they are either victims or perpetrators of GBV.
Meanwhile, Studies reveal increasing HIV cases among youth, emphasizing the need for sports-based dialogue to address the link between GBV, teenage pregnancies, and HIV.
Abraham Kirui, chair of People Living with Disabilities, emphasized the need for GRC and rescue centers in all sub counties, hailing development partners for the establishment.
The chair noted that the terrain in the county poses a challenge in transporting persons with disabilities (PWDs) to recovery centers for necessary services.
By Alice Wanjiru
