Nyeri County Launches Training for Community GBV Champions Amid Rising Violence ConcernsUriri Constituency Offers Full Scholarships to 25 Needy Students

NYERI – The County Government of Nyeri is currently hosting a three-day training program aimed at empowering 50 community champions to tackle the escalating instances of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within the region. The initiative, led by the County’s Executive for Gender, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, Esther Ndung’u, is focused on addressing the complex issue of GBV, specifically targeting eight localities identified as high-risk areas for teenage pregnancies.

According to Kenya News Agency, the training, named Imarisha Msichana, aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the root causes, manifestations, and impacts of GBV on survivors. The program intends to impart skills and knowledge to the trainees, enabling them to challenge the societal norms that perpetuate violence and work towards creating a safe and respectful environment for all.

Participants in the workshop include officials from the Judiciary, National Police Service, Probation Office, National Government Administration Officers, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE). The training encompasses various critical areas, such as strategies to reduce teenage pregnancies and child marriages, advocating for GBV laws and policies, and the establishment of rights clubs and menstrual centers in schools.

The workshop, which commenced on Monday at the Karatina Ibis Hotel, is set to conclude today, Wednesday. Ndung’u highlighted the importance of the training, noting the critical role of police officers attached to the Gender desk and community champions in addressing GBV. She emphasized the necessity of collaborative efforts in these endeavors.

Ndung’u also pointed out a significant barrier in combating GBV – the lack of information among community members. She observed that most victims of GBV are unaware of how to seek assistance, resulting in a failure to obtain justice. Furthermore, informal sittings, known as kamukunji courts, often undermine the formal criminal justice system, allowing perpetrators to escape punishment.

Highlighting the procedure for GBV victims, Ndung’u explained the importance of preserving evidence and following the correct referral path, which includes reporting to a GBV center and the police. The training addresses these critical aspects to ensure proper investigation and justice for victims.

This training comes at a crucial time as women’s rights groups continue to urge the government to confront the growing number of femicide cases in the country. According to the Coalition Against Sexual Violence, a local women’s rights advocacy group, since 2019, there have been over 500 reported cases of women losing their lives to male perpetrators, with at least 10 women reported to have been killed this month alone.

URIRI, Kenya – In Uriri Constituency, a significant educational development has unfolded as 25 needy students received full education scholarships. The scholarships were granted under the Tusome Tujiinue programme, initiated by the area’s Member of Parliament, Mark Nyamita. This move comes as a relief for both parents and pupils, especially considering the challenges many families in the constituency face in affording secondary school fees.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Chair of the Uriri National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF), who spoke on behalf of MP Nyamita at the Uriri CDF headquarters, these scholarships are part of a broader initiative to address educational disparities in the region. The selection process for the scholarship beneficiaries involved extensive home visits across the 22 sub-locations of the expansive Uriri constituency. Nyariaro highlighted that this year’s selection criteria were more stringent, requiring students to have scored at least 300 marks, a shift from previous years.

The Tusome Tujiinue programme, which began in 2018, aims to support needy and vulnerable students who demonstrate academic potential. The programme has shown significant success, with an 85 percent success rate in scholarship applications. The 2024 cohort of scholarship recipients is expected to maintain or exceed this level of academic achievement throughout their four-year high school journey.

This educational initiative is particularly timely, as it addresses a critical gap in the constituency. The Ministry of Education’s data revealed that out of 131,854 learners country-wide who were yet to report to their respective secondary schools, only 1,268,180 had reported to Form One as of January 26. The Tusome Tujiinue scholarship programme not only offers financial support but also ensures continuity in education for these students.

While this development marks a positive step towards educational accessibility in Uriri, challenges remain at the county level. Migori County Director of Education, Jacob Onyiego, acknowledged that the county has not yet achieved a 100 percent transition to secondary education. He urged guardians facing boarding fees challenges to consider enrolling their children in nearby day and mixed secondary schools.