KITUI - A consortium of leaders in Kitui County has voiced serious concerns over the rising instances of gender-based violence (GBV) targeting women and underage girls, marking a distressing trend in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, statements made at the International Women's Day ceremony at Nguutani trading center in Mwingi West constituency, presided over by Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, Members of Parliament Charles Nguna (Mwingi West) and Gideon Mulyungi (Mwingi Central), county woman representative Irene Kasalu, and nominated Senator Beth Syengo collectively urged for concerted efforts among leaders, GBV activists, and security agencies to devise effective strategies to combat this menace.
The call to action was underscored by the recent brutal murders of two women in separate incidents, further highlighting the urgent need for protective measures for the vulnerable. Kasalu detailed the harrowing crimes, including a form three student from Mutha ward in Kitui South constituency who was sexually abused and killed, and another woman from Kiomo-Kyaithani Ward in Mwingi West constituency whose murder is suspected to arise from a family dispute.
Furthermore, the woman representative condemned the sexual abuse of two primary school sisters in Ikanga ward in Kitui South constituency, stressing that gender-based violence affects not only girls but boys as well, with reports of male children being sodomized. The county's top security official, Commissioner Jipchumba Rutto, assured the public of the government's commitment to tackling GBV, promising stern action against perpetrators and enhanced security measures to protect the community.
Governor Malombe highlighted the county government's ongoing efforts to empower women and reduce their vulnerability to GBV. Among the initiatives mentioned were the attainment of the two-thirds gender rule in county employment, the development of water and health infrastructure to lessen the burdens on women and girls, and the promotion of women's roles in agriculture through the provision of irrigation infrastructure and agricultural machinery to local groups.
The county's leadership is taking a multi-faceted approach to address the scourge of gender-based violence, emphasizing the empowerment of women and girls as a cornerstone of their strategy. These efforts are aimed at not only providing immediate protection and support to GBV victims but also at fostering an environment where women can thrive economically and socially, free from the threat of violence.