Last year, like its predecessor 2020, presented a startling upsurge in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), particularly against women and girls.
Covid-19 has aggravated this situation with perpetrators of domestic violence, defilement, rape and all manner of abuse, including cybercrime, hide behind the frustration of the pandemic’s effects to molest women and girls because of their gender.
This ‘shadow pandemic’ — for that is what SGBV has since become after the coronavirus struck — is a terrible global experience. Kenya has to commit to deal with and decisively address it and all other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) with the weightiness that vice deserves.
It is evident that promoting awareness against violence of any nature, including SGBV, discourages threats and risks. In a society such as ours, the individuals raising that awareness matter. Hence, any leader worth the designation in their community, and nationally, should take it as their responsibility to speak out against any form of violations and abuse based on gender, in particular that which targets women.
It should not be too much to ask of any leader, in whatever capacity, unless they are perpetrators or supporters of SGBV and human rights violations. Experience has shown that when individuals in positions of leadership take up certain issues, the society usually pays attention and they may take heed.
At the height of lockdowns imposed by the government to curb the spread of the Covid-19, after it struck Kenya in March 2020, startling and astounding news of an increase in all forms of SGBV, mostly against women and girls, were widely reported. Civil society, particularly women and children’s rights organisations, spoke out against the appalling misconduct and criminality, helping the victims in all ways, including giving safe accommodation at the few rescue centres.
On July 6 of that year, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered investigations into reports of the escalating SGBV, including a surge in teenage pregnancy attributed to violations and abuse of the vulnerable, female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage.
Consequently, the President directed the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) to probe the troubling ballooning cases of SGBV and “the worrying trend where the girl-child has been disempowered”. The agency was also directed to formulate an advisory that would guide security agencies’ interventions.
The President, like many Kenyans of goodwill, appeared concerned that the worrying situation had got to a level of outright violations against the female gender — in particular, minors— because of their vulnerability. It had also become a threat to the family’s stability and, by extension, the state’s.
Then, the nation’s attention was drawn to the heinousness of SGBV — albeit momentarily, partly as an impact of Covid-19 curbs. The intervention by the government towards the violations and worst forms of indignity was not only welcome but also timely. It was to later help to secure the future of child mothers by assimilating them back to school.
Thankfully, all indications are that the policy is being obeyed in most counties — especially where teenage pregnancy was prevalent — and administrators on the ground largely ensure it is enforced.
However, the country still has a lot to do in as far as prevention, awareness promotion as well as in dealing with and addressing human rights violations in the form of SGBV is concerned. While women’s rights organisations do remarkable and outstanding work to raise awareness and deal with SGBV against the female gender, they can only do so much.
Politicians should use their platforms — and this electioneering period is an opportune moment — to not only condemn SGBV but also raise awareness against the criminality, promote good practices and, obviously, lead by example.
Voters and the media need to hold politicians to account on their gender agenda (and policy). It is important that leaders seeking office be accountable on matters gender, and most important on the issue of violence against women.
Ms Rugene is a consulting editor and founder, The Woman’s Newsroom
