Wives beating their husbands, says study

More men than women are victims of domestic violence in Kisumu County, a survey has established.

Its findings indicate that Kisumu and Kakamega have a high prevalence of gender violence.

Ms Matrober Maube, the nurse in charge of the Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centre at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, said the number of male victims seeking treatment at the unit had increased.

Speaking during the launch of the findings in Kisumu Tuesday, she attributed the reporting to increased awareness among the public.

“For long, women have been reporting the cases, but of late, men are coming on board. The fear is no longer there, thanks to community change agents,” she said.

CONJUGAL RIGHTS

Mr Jactonne Ouma (not his real name) is one of the victims. His wife beat him when they disagreed over sex.

“When I asked her for my right, she became very hostile and turned against me,” he said. “I did not even know how to defend myself.”

Although they had quarrelled many times before, he said, he did not imagine that the woman could beat him.

Mr Otieno Kodhoch, a chief, said he had handled several such cases. “We are tackling the issues, and with awareness creation, we are hoping that gender-based violence will be a thing of the past,” he said at the forum.

However, violence against women is still rampant in Kisumu and Kakamega counties, in spite of the findings on men, says the survey, which was conducted in September.

The research was conducted in four districts: Nyakach and Kisumu East in Kisumu County and Kakamega South and Mumias in Kakamega County, where cases of gender violence are reportedly high.

A total of 736 respondents were interviewed. A majority, 384 or 52.2 per cent, were male, while 352 or 47.8 per cent were female.

The study was conducted in slums and rural settlements.

While many of the women do not report the cases, male victims are coming out to tell their story, it emerged during a community discussion held in Kisumu Tuesday.