Women Rep sets off construction of GBV centre
What you need to know:
- Construction of a Sh27 million centre for victims of GBV in Kisii, the first of such in the county.
- It is funded by the National Government Affirmative Action Fund,
- Kisii Woman Rep Janet Ong’era says GBV is not only for women; men too, are battered.
- County ranks ninth in gender violence incidents in the country.
- Men in violent relationships resort to chang’aa dens and other forms of pleasure.
Kisii Woman Rep Janet Ong’era will facilitate the construction of a Sh27 million centre for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in Kisii.
This is the first GBV and drug rehabilitation sanctuary in the county, and will be used as a rehab for drug addicts and rescue centre for victims of domestic violence of either gender.
It is funded by the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, Kisii County.
The two-storey building with a capacity of 20 beds, will host counselling, rehabilitation and sanctuary rooms. It will also have an ICT centre and modern offices for staff.
A clinic, a police office, a capacity training hall among other facilities too, will be included.
CHANG'AA DENS
While laying the foundation stone on Tuesday, Ms Onge’ra said construction is expected to end by December.
“Gender-based violence (GBV) is not only for women; we have seen cases of men being battered. This centre will cater for them too,” said Ms Ong’era.
Rape and defilement are the major forms of GBV in the county.
Kisii County has, since March this year, recorded 46 defilement cases. County Police Commander Jebel Munene said the trend is worrying.
The county also recorded about 10,000 teenage pregnancies in the last 11 months, from July 2019 to May 2020, statistics that are alarmingly high.
SPOUSAL VIOLENCE
The devolved unit now ranks ninth in gender violence incidents in the country.
Latest data by the National Crime Research Centre indicates that GBV including domestic violence, is a 14 per cent higher than the national statistic of nine per cent.
Statistics of men who undergo GBV in the region are scanty because men keep to themselves to avoid stigma. Ms Ongera, however, said silence is no alternative treatment to spousal violence.
"While we celebrate the laying of the foundation stone of this centre today, it should not be forgotten that we are struggling to contain the upsurge of cases of men being battered by their spouses," she said.
The Woman Rep said it is time dialogue was used the more to resolve domestic issues.
“Gender-based violence cuts both sides with hundreds of men in the villages in Gusii now nursing bruises of domestic brutalities,” said the lawmaker.
Men, especially, resort to drown their sufferings in chang’aa dens and other forms of pleasure. She called on abused men to seek help.
"It should not be lost that these men are suffering and dying silently from incidents of domestic thuggery," she stated.
