Mobile app to boost war on gender for gender violence war
Members of the public celebrate the launch of a gender-based violence reporting desk at Nyeri Central Police station on August 11, 2014. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA
What you need to know:
- The app, available on Android smartphones requires an individual to download it and add trusted friends and loved ones to their safety circle.
The fight against gender-based violence just got a little easier with the invention of a mobile application that allows potential victims to send an SOS message to their trusted friends when in danger.
The Bonga App explores the power of social networking and is the brainchild of seven former Egerton University students.
The app, available on Android smartphones requires an individual to download it and add trusted friends and loved ones to their safety circle.
The added individuals will then be notified.
The “please pick me up” option can send the user’s location in case of any danger, provided there is a data connection.
In addition, there is detailed information on how the user can protect themselves and their friends in case of an attack, while parents and guardians can also monitor the safety of their children.
The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey shows that 41 per cent of married women and 11 per cent of married men in Kenya have either suffered physical or sexual violence from their partners or spouses.
