Human rights defenders raise alarm over high prevalence of GBV cases in Nakuru

Human rights defenders have raised concerns over the alarming rate of Gender Based Violence in Nakuru.

The groups including those championing for women rights want the perpetrators brought to book for the crimes

This comes days after a report by a Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) revealed that Nakuru County ranks second nationally in the prevalence of GBV cases, an alarming indication of the scale of the crisis.

Maimuna Mwinyi, a Nakuru Human Rights Activist agrees with the findings of the report which she says are troubling.

“We have traditional forms of GBV; these are physical, sexual, and psychological abuse; however, currently we face the threat of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual distribution of intimate images), which is an emerging trend that is also a major threat at the moment,” she notes.

She continues to say, “ Most of the people within the community do not really understand this concept as much, and therefore these acts of violence are perpetrated against women, and in many instances such cases just fall into the cracks and no one is brought to account,” she laments.

She says that we need to create awareness on this issue and also come up with policies and laws that will help in the fight against GBV.

Ann Mwithaga, who runs a foundation to empower women and girls, narrates to us how time and again she has come across harrowing stories of women who have had to endure GBV simply because they lack basic commodities.

“Within informal settlements, poverty pushes women and even young girls into deeply vulnerable situations. Many feel compelled to enter relationships with men solely for survival, in exchange for basic necessities. Tragically, these relationships frequently become abusive, with women subjected to insults, beatings, and ultimately, more extreme forms of violence,” she laments.
She also alluded to mental health issues and tough economic times as some of the triggers that have contributed to issues of GBV.

“Sometimes whenever people are stressed or depressed, they tend to take it out on people closest to them, and this is the case; couple this with the fact that currently most people are struggling to make ends meet, then it really escalates matters,” she says.

Angela Wamaitha, a youth leader in Nakuru Town West, tends to agree with the sentiments of Ann, and she says that from her observation the trend is especially worrying in the informal settlements.

“The aspect of TFGBV is something that is currently on an upward trend within the informal settlements here in Nakuru. Just last week, there were explicit videos of women in our communities that were leaked, and these are girls who are well known within our communities; I would not want to imagine the toll it has taken on them mentally,” she says.

She says that to some extent the aspect of GBV has been normalized in many of the informal settlements.

“There is a belief among some of the men that beating your wife shows your dominance and also gets you the much-deserved respect. Therefore, there are those who have normalized this, and even for some women they see no problem with it; therefore, I think creating awareness on matters GBV will go a long way,” she says.

Furthermore, she points the finger at the authorities for not really fast-tracking GBV cases and delaying justice for the victims.