As Kenya approaches the 16 days of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness month, Baringo residents, particularly those living in remote areas, are speaking out about the urgent need for more public sensitization against the vice so as to protect women from abuse.
This follows the harrowing experience of a 34-year-old woman, Hellen Asito, who was brutally attacked by her partner following some disagreement.
Hellen, a mother of two, vividly remembers the night of terror when her drunk partner returned home around 10.00pm and began a violent quarrel.
“He locked the door, picked up a machete, and started attacking me,” Asito recalls while narrating to KNA yesterday in Eldama Ravine, her voice trembling with the memory.
The chaos that followed were nothing short of a nightmare. Asito struggled desperately to escape, managing to break free and run outside with her left hand already severely injured.
But her attempt to flee was met with even more violence—her partner managed to strike her again, this time on her leg.
The screams of distress drew the attention of neighbours, who rushed to her aid but despite their efforts, her attacker vanished into thin air, leaving Asito a broken woman, physically disabled and emotionally scarred.
Asito was quickly rushed to Eldama Ravine Sub-County Hospital, where her condition required further attention. She was later referred to Nakuru PGH for specialized treatment.
She was eventually discharged after two weeks in hospital, but since then, her life is far from normal. Her left hand and leg are both in plaster, and she is now confined to her mother’s house, relying on her aging mother for care.
“My mother, Ruth Lokol, is very old and lives in a mud house. She can’t help much, but I have no choice. I’m in too much pain to do anything myself,” Asito says softly, her gaze drifting to the floor where she sits wrapped in a blanket outside her humble home.
The authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, and are currently searching for the man who is believed to be hiding.
Asito’s cousin, Pauline Aspitali, remembers the distressing scene when she found Asito bleeding on the floor. “It was their second fight,” “We just hope that justice will prevail for her, so this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Pauline shares.
For Asito, the scars left on her body are not just physical; they are a constant reminder of the man who once claimed to love her.
She now lives with the aftermath of that night, struggling to adjust to a life she never imagined, while waiting for justice to be served.
This tragic story is just one of many instances of violence against women that occur daily in Kenya, particularly in rural areas. As GBV Awareness Month approaches, it highlights the critical need for education and intervention programmes to address the deep-rooted issues of gender-based violence in communities.
Women like Hellen Asito are not just victims; they are survivors, and they need support, legal protection, and access to resources to heal and rebuild their lives.
Kenya still has a long way to go in creating widespread awareness about GBV, and it is clear that much more must be done to ensure the safety and dignity of women across the country. As Hellen and her family wait for justice, they hope that her story will encourage others to stand up and speak out against violence in all its forms.
By Maureen Chesang and Christopher Kiprop
