Hundreds of women from Trans Nzoia County have taken to the streets of Kitale town to protest against an increase in the number of Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases.
The most recent case is that of Benedict Kiptoo, a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Kitale campus student who was allegedly stabbed to death by his girlfriend Mercy Masika alias Nancy Faizah.
Led by the chairperson of Trans Nzoia Women Leaders CBO, Immaculate Shamala, the women presented a petition to the office of the County Commissioner, Kitale police station, office of the Governor and Trans Nzoia County Assembly.
Trans Nzoia women want gender desks in police stations operationalised
In their petitions, the women demanded the operationalization of gender desks in all the police stations, full implementation of the Trans Nzoia Gender and Development policy as well as the conclusion of all pending GBV cases.
Shamala urged the county government of Trans Nzoia to ensure there are clear budget lines for gender-based violence mitigation in every financial year’s budget.
“If we do not have budgets, we cannot address GBV. Please, our honourable members, please our speaker, please our clerk find it in your hearts to have a GBV kitty in next year’s budget. Don’t pass any budget from the executive that does not have GBV kitty,” she appealed.
In addition, Shamala said all their petitions have very elaborate timelines and called on the implementers to stick to the timelines.
Idle gender desks in police stations to be activated
Addressing the women, Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi, said the government through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration will activate idle gender desks in police stations.
“We admit that there are no active gender desks but you have my word that going forward, we will have a very vibrant gender desk in every police station to handle all sexual and gender-based violence cases,” Oyagi assured.
The County Security and Intelligence Committee Chairperson further condemned settling of gender-based violence cases at home denying victims access to justice.
“As a government, we will work against any kangaroo courts particularly those cases where we have had incidents of rape, any form of GBV. What we’re urging you is to ensure all cases are reported and we shall pursue them to their logical conclusion,” he reiterated.
After presenting their petitions, the women lit candles in remembrance of Bendict Kiptoo and other victims of Sexual and gender-based violence.
The women were observing the last day of the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based and International Human Rights Day.
