Safe spaces, safer lives: How Kakamega is shaping the war on GBV
Women's Rights Adviser to the President Harriette Chiggai. She said 97 women died from femicide in the first quarter of 2024.
What you need to know:
Kakamega launches Safe Homes Initiative to combat GBV, empower women, and foster collaboration for safer, equitable communities amidst alarming femicide cases.
Through legal frameworks and community partnerships, the county prioritises safe spaces, awareness, and survivor support to ensure the safety of SGBV survivors.
Kakamega County has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to combat gender-based violence and advance women's rights amid rising concerns over femicide cases across Kenya.
The county's latest initiative, dubbed the Safe Homes, Safe Spaces Initiative, is a three-year national project aimed at reducing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) through education and awareness campaigns. This comes at a critical time when the country grapples with an alarming surge in violence against women, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages.
According to Harriett Chiggai, President William Ruto's Adviser on Women's Rights, the first quarter of this year saw 97 women fall victim to femicide, while 1,556 cases of sodomy against boys were reported. The numbers have since increased following the discovery of several bodies in dams and cemeteries.
"We are taking a decisive stand by constructing safe houses and spaces," Chiggai declared during the initiative's launch in Kakamega, which coincided with the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV. "You don't need to remain in an abusive household where tomorrow you might be murdered."
The initiative has garnered support from unexpected quarters, including boda boda riders, who have previously been implicated in such crimes. The riders have pledged to work with the government as agents of change, particularly since 75 percent of their passengers are women and children.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who presided over the launch, emphasized the need to shift away from victim-blaming. "We must stop asking 'why did she go there' when a woman is assaulted. No one is justified in killing another person, whether in public or private," he stated.
Mudavadi cited recent UN Women's statistics showing that nearly one in three women globally experience violence in their lifetime. "In 2023, Africa recorded the highest number of female intimate partner and family-related killings, with approximately 2.9 victims per 100,000 females. We cannot continue living in a society where our women and girls are uncertain about reaching their destinations safely."
The initiative in Kakamega follows the county's implementation of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Control and Management Act, 2024. This legislation provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and managing SGBV cases, while establishing mechanisms for survivors' economic empowerment.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa announced that the county's Education department would collaborate with stakeholders to build capacity among healthcare providers and community health promoters for better SGBV information dissemination.
"We must stop resolving rape, defilement, and domestic violence cases at home," Governor Barasa urged, addressing the common practice of settling such cases through traditional mechanisms. "Following due process is essential to reducing these incidents and ensuring justice for survivors."
The Act mandates the establishment of safe houses offering temporary shelter, management, security, and protection services for SGBV victims. These facilities will be equipped with counseling services, medical care, and legal support to ensure comprehensive care for survivors.
President Ruto has demonstrated his commitment to the cause by pledging Sh100 million to support the Safe House, Safe Space Initiative and its awareness campaigns. He has called upon all Kenyans to join the movement, educate others, and speak out against violence in their communities, emphasising that the fight against gender-based violence requires collective action and sustained commitment from all sectors of society.
