Nakuru county lauded for integrating technology in the fight against GBV

Despite Nakuru being ranked among the counties leading in Gender Based violence cases in the country, the county administration has been at the forefront putting up mitigation measure to help end the vice.

The Technical Working Group on GBV which ranked the county second in terms of GBV prevalence, also recognized the efforts the county has put in place to mitigate the vice key among them integrating technology into GBV prevention efforts.

The report acknowledged the efforts such as the digital GBV information and reporting system that was launched In May last year.

The system is designed to track cases in real time, support survivors through referrals to legal, psychosocial, and medical services, and equip decision-makers with data for targeted interventions

Chief Officer, Gender and Social Services, Gladys Kamuren, in an interview with Mtaa Wangu notes that ever since they launched this information management system, they seen tremendous results in strengthening the fight against GBV.

“I want to acknowledge the findings of the report and say that the department has been very active in creating awareness and also in reporting cases of gender-based violence. A while back, people did not have knowledge of these matters and therefore many cases went unreported,” she says.

She also says that the cosmopolitan nature of the county also attributes to the large number of these cases.

Ms Kamuren further indicates that system goes further to give specific details on the specific incident, specific ward, and subcounty as well as help in tracking the cases that have been reported.

“We endeavor to ensure we follow these cases up to the tail end. From the moment they are reported, we ensure the victim goes to hospital to get medical attention, to the point where we get the police involved and even up to the prosecution of the perpetrators,” she notes.

After the police are informed and the ODPP, we still keep tabs on the matter.

“Most of the cases usually go cold at the police station; we try our best to push these matters forward to the ODPP and even at court. There is a specific period for which matters of GBV are supposed to be handled; therefore, when the time set out for this matter to be heard elapses and yet they have not been completed, we get notified of the same,” she says.

The system has further helped in mapping out the areas that are adversely affected by GBV and therefore they are able to put the required effort into fighting this menace.