Nowhere to run for battered men
What you need to know:
- National toll-free number for men at risk of Sexual and Gender Based Violence might become obsolete in November this year.
- The 1196 hotline has so far, assisted at least 2,000 men from 26 counties get free psychosocial support.
- Sustainability uncertain as the founders are yet to secure finances to maintain the operations beyond the six-month grace period.
- Men have been calling saying they have lost jobs and have no food for their families.
- Cases of men who say they have reached the end of their tether, say they plan to buy petrol and burn their houses with the wife and children inside.
- Out of the 26 counties where cases are reported, Nairobi leads with 42 per cent, followed by Kiambu and Kisumu at six per cent each.
The national toll-free number for men at risk of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) might become obsolete in November this year.
The 1196 hotline launched in June 12, has so far, assisted at least 2,000 men from 26 counties get free psychosocial support. Thirty professional counsellors are attached to the hotline.
Sustainability of these services is, however, uncertain as the founders are yet to secure finances to maintain the operations beyond the six-month grace period.
“We had an agreement with the counsellors that after six months, we will be paying them Sh2,000 per day,” said Mr Dan ShieShie, the hotline’s brainchild.
MONTHLY CHARGE
“After six months, we will also be required to pay the provider of the call services a monthly charge Sh300,000 for a bundle of up 200 calls a day.”
Speaking to Nation on Tuesday, the founder of DanShieShie Foundation said they have collaborated with TeleSky, Kenya Healthcare Foundation and Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) to launch the hotline.
In the past one month, an average of 70 men have been calling daily, some seeking psychosocial support and a refuge to escape from the distress and others requesting a supply of food.
“Men are calling and they say they have lost jobs and they have no food for their families,” said Mr ShieShie.
“That has made us realise that counselling is not enough. We have to address the underlying factors and find ways to provide them with food, which would minimise chances of violence.”
He said they are also in the process of identifying mediators to help some of the men amend their relationships with their spouses.
BURN THEIR HOUSES
Mr ShieShie added: “We have had cases of men who say they have reached the end of their tether. They even say they plan to buy petrol and burn their houses with the wife and children inside…the counsellors work so hard to cool down the individuals.”
Mr ShieShie, a police officer currently attached to Industrial Area Police Station, expressed concern over non-recognition of violence against men and boys as a matter of urgency.
He said mobilising resources has been a tough task as majority of donors still hold onto the belief that “when it comes to sexual and gender based violence, only women and girls are affected.”
SHARE EXPERIENCES
“The society is yet to accept the fact that men are equally victims and that has contributed to few men reporting the assaults or sharing their experiences. But we must realise that we will only co-exist if we address SGBV issues for both men and women,” he said.
He called for sensitisation of police officers and medical professionals on violence against men to avoid stigmatising them whenever they seek their services.
“Men have nowhere to run to. They are laughed at by the police and at the hospitals when they report being violated against,” he said.
Out of the 26 counties where the cases are being reported, Nairobi is leading with 42 per cent, followed by Kiambu and Kisumu at six per cent each.
Five per cent of the cases have been reported from Mombasa County. Nakuru, Siaya and Busia counties make up four per cent of the cases. While three per cent of the cases have been received from Kakamega and Kisii counties.
