KISII COUNTY, Kenya – Doris Aburi, the Woman Representative of Kisii County, has raised serious concerns regarding the increasing number of children born to mentally handicapped mothers in the region. Her statement came during the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at Sosera health centre in Nyamasibi ward, Nyaribari Masaba Constituency.
According to Kenya News Agency, this issue is a significant societal concern, posing the risk of escalating numbers of neglected children. She highlighted that mentally ill women, suffering from conditions such as madness, retardation, or insanity, are often victims of rape, leading to pregnancies that exacerbate their challenging circumstances. Aburi criticized the societal silence around this issue, describing it as a “ticking time bomb.”
The Women’s Representative announced her intention to present a motion in Parliament to address this issue. She aims to compel the government to provide support for these children, including access to free education and healthcare. Aburi expressed dismay at the situation where “sober people are impregnating these helpless women,” leading to them bearing children from such abuse.
Additionally, Aburi touched on the subject of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She urged the residents to stop secretly performing this act, labeling it a retrogressive cultural practice with no health benefits. She also pointed out the paradigm shift in GBV, noting that men, too, are increasingly becoming victims. Aburi called for families to adopt alternative conflict resolution methods rather than resorting to violence.
Zacharia Ombuna, the Area Chief, assured residents of the government’s efforts to streamline the registration of physically challenged persons into the Inua Jamii program. This initiative is part of the government’s social protection fund, aimed at supporting vulnerable groups.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) report of 2022 underscores the recognition of GBV as a violation of basic human rights with significant health burdens, intergenerational effects, and demographic consequences. The KNBS defines GBV as any act resulting in physical, sexual, economic, or psychological harm or suffering, including threats, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, irrespective of the victim’s gender.
In Kenya, GBV is acknowledged as a critical concern from human rights, economic, and health perspectives. To combat this issue, several legal and policy frameworks have been implemented. These include the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, the Sexual Offences Act, No.3 of 2006, the Protection against Domestic Violence Act, No.2 of 2015, and the Victims Protection Act, No. 17 of 2014. Additionally, the National Policy on Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence, 2014, and the Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2019 on National Policy on Gender and Development have been adopted to address this issue.