Narok, Kenya – A coalition of stakeholders, including the Department of Gender, Amref Health Africa, World Vision, and others, has launched a campaign for 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Children Service Month in Elangata Enterit, Narok South sub-county. The campaign aims to eradicate all forms of GBV against children and women.
According to Kenya News Agency, The Chief Magistrate of Narok law court, Hezron Nyamberi, speaking at the event, highlighted that November is dedicated to creating awareness about children’s rights and combating GBV in society. “This month, we have set aside over 100 files concerning children and allocated them to various judicial officers for hearing,” said Nyamberi. He mentioned that the court has issued notices to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to ensure witness attendance and lawful case handling.
Nyamberi pointed out that the majority of pending court cases involve defilement, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and child neglect or abandonment. The County Director of Gender, Agnes Ngeno, noted that FGM remains prevalent in Narok at 51 percent, while teenage pregnancies stand at 28 percent. Ngeno emphasized the need for community engagement and awareness to combat these issues.
Meshack Lesurmat from Amref Health Africa in Narok County explained that the 16 days of activism are focused on uniting partners advocating for the rights of girls and women to engage with communities on harmful practices. “We aim to build a society free from FGM, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages,” Lesurmat stated, stressing the need to educate the Maasai community on the negative impacts of these practices.
Denis Musomba, Assistant County Commissioner, representing the Deputy County Commissioner of Narok South sub-county, highlighted the government’s efforts to streamline GBV case reporting. He praised the establishment of a gender desk at every police station and the gazettement of Naroosura police station, which has significantly reduced GBV cases in the area.
The campaign against GBV will continue until December 10th, 2023, marking a concerted effort to address and eliminate gender-based violence in the region.