Some 561 service providers have graduated as Gender Based Violence counselors in Kilifi County.
The officers, consisting of public servants and civil society organisations, graduated after a nine-month training under the Kenya-Finland Bilateral program steered by the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Kilifi, Finland’s Ambassador to Kenya, Pirkka Tapiola, emphasised the need to accelerate the fight against femicide, even as the country observes 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
Tapiola cited the United Nations Women reports, mentioning the increasing frequency of femicide in Kenya, with 97 cases reported in the last three months, with 5 instances from Kilifi County, thus emphasising the need for more national efforts.
The ambassador added that the Finnish Government is committed to supporting Kenya in combating femicide and gender-based violence, emphasising the need for more counsellors in the country.
“UN Women reports that every 10 minutes, partners and family members intentionally killed women or girls in 2023. In Kilifi, 5 women died in femicide, two unburied,” Tapiola said.
The ambassador’s statement was echoed by Director of Kenya-Finland Bilateral Program Director Phibbie Wakhungu, who emphasised the need for more counsellors in Kenya to reduce first-hand GBV cases.
Wakhungu announced plans to train graduates as trainers to increase GBV counsellors addressing communication breakdowns and minor disagreements leading to violence.
“Gender-Based Violence cases often occur among non-siblings due to communication breakdowns and minor disagreements, necessitating more grassroots counsellors to promptly address such cases,” Wakhungu said.
On the other hand, the County Government of Kilifi committed to integrating the Gender-Based Violence counsellors in the mental health section in a bid to assist the health department in combating the vice.
In a speech read by the County Executive Committee for Lands, Jane Kamto, on behalf of the Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro, the county is in the process of building rescue centres to ensure victims of gender-based violence are protected.
“We are happy to integrate your services in the mental health department under the Department of Health, ensuring you have the support and supervision required to excel in your roles. Your contribution as additional players of skilled hands will be instrumental in enhancing the quality of life for our people,” said Kamto.
The Kenya-Finland Bilateral program was initiated in 2021, covering the counties of Baringo, Turkana, and Kilifi, with its main focus being capacity building of duty bearers, who consisted of offices from the health department, Nyumba Kumi, administrative officers, teachers, and other moral bearers, trained on counselling psychology, drug and substance abuse, and mediation for 9 months.
By Stephen Mrira
