By Baraka Simba
Newly admitted students at the Eldoret National Polytechnic have been asked to join the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Institution’s Deputy Dean of Students Jane Marindich made this appeal during a session that brought together all male learners admitted in September 2024.
Marindich explained the need for all to fight the vice that ranges from sexual to exploitation abuse.
She also pointed out that new students stand a high chance of being exploited by the society they are living in due to their need for money.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, sexual harassment is the most common form of assault happening in Kenyan colleges and Marindich urged students to take serious action against it.
“This violence affects the trainees negatively academically and some may end up dropping out of school. We have had victims of GBV struggling to concentrate in class, and therefore let’s create our own safe space so that we can be able to contribute to a culture of dignity,” said the deputy dean of students.
In the journey to build a free GBV society, Eldoret National Polytechnic students were encouraged to remain informed on their rights and say no to assaults.
She said that knowing the polytechnic’s guiding policies and challenging the stereotypes is the key to fighting gender-based Violence.
“Another thing is to ensure your clear consent in every kind of engagement. Get to know the boundaries and implications of the interaction. It’s also important to support the victims of GBV,” Marindich said.
