Interior Ministry has raised concern over the increased levels of gender-based violence targeting women and children that have led to cold-blood murders in the recent days.
Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i said solutions have to be sought as a matter of urgency to stem these vices, adding that the country cannot move forward with such levels of violence.
Speaking during a correctional services woman leadership forum at Ruiru Prisons Staff College last Thursday, Matiang’i said he will convene a meeting with non-state actors to come up with solutions.
He said in some instances, the violence has been meted by his officers on their families.
Last week, Peter Mwaura a military officer of Laikipia Airbase in Nanyuki was arrested after he was accused of murdering his wife and two children in cold-blood on October 26.
Their bodies were recovered in a shallow grave in Laikipia County on November 16.
Several cases of men murdering their wives have also been reported in the past few months.
“What we are witnessing is not normal. I feel the responsibility of it as a leader. We can’t live this way where we are butchering our wives and murdering children in an unprecedented manner. There is nothing that justifies this. There is nothing cultural about this. It is something we have to deal with urgently,” said Matiang’i.
Matiang’i called on faith-based organizations to also play their role in mentoring men to become responsible and respecters of women rights.
He at the same time raised concern over lack of child friendly police stations where children can report cases of violence and family problems as they come across.
He said he will be meeting the National Police Service and the Inspector General and other Government agencies to address the matter.
He was accompanied by CS’s Margaret Kobia (Gender, Youth and Public Service), Rachael Omamo (Defense) Faridah Karoney (Lands) and Monica Juma (Foreign Affairs).
The women CS’s called for active participation for women in leadership, saying the country was moving towards achieving the two thirds gender role.
“The latest census results showed that women population is at 52 per cent and we ask for positions to spread in the same manner,” said Juma.
By Muoki Charles
