A bill sponsored by the Kisii County Member of National Assembly, Dorice Aburi, meant to deter Gender-Based Violence (GBV), is underway in parliament.
The upcoming bill, an amendment to the current Sexual Offences Act, will be more punitive to the extent of discouraging potential offenders.
Addressing chiefs and assistant chiefs from the county at Kereri Girls Secondary School, even as the country marks 16 days of gender activism, Aburi disclosed the bill had already gone through the first reading.
According to the women rep, the public will be adequately sensitised countrywide on the amended bill for ownership and effective enforcement.
She decried sexual violence meted out on the girl-child, including defilement of people living with disabilities, and urged stakeholders to condemn it and cooperate towards its elimination.
Aburi lauded the very important role played by the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) at the grassroots in tackling the vice among other crimes reported to them and petitioned the government to facilitate them with vehicles for mobility.
On her part, nominated senator Esther Okenyuri cautioned adolescents to be keen on their health lest they contact and spread HIV infections during this end-year holiday.
The senator urged residents to get voluntarily tested to know their HIV status.
She also urged members of the community to fight GBV if they were to achieve meaningful economic development.
Bassi Central Location Chief, Nyamache sub-county, Jane Yobesh, explained the strategies put in place to prevent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) during the current holidays.
This includes public awareness meetings and regular home visits by the Nyumba Kumi community policing committee members to report on any cases of the FGM, even as the girl-child was preoccupied with alternative rite of passage seminars.
By Jane Naitore
