City hall is on track to ensure victims of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) have safe houses in Nairobi.
Ann Kananu led the administration on Tuesday. signed an MoU with World Vision Kenya that will see the two organisations pool resources to support operations at Kayole safe house for SGBV victims.
County Secretary Jairus Musumba noted that the Kayole Safehouse will go a long way in alleviating pain endured as well as bring hope to victims of GBV.
" Starting operations at Kayole safe house is a great milestone for the County as it is part of the implementation of the Nairobi City County Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Prevention, Response, and Control Act, 2021 which makes for provision of a safe house in every sub-county," he said.
It was revealed that USAID has donated Sh6.7 million towards the Kayole safe house.
Regina Mbayaki, Deputy Chief of Party USAID Tumikia Mtoto project revealed that the funds that will be donated have a lifeline until September 30, 2022.
“For the support of this safe shelter, USAID provided us with Sh50,000 USSD which comes as a stand-alone funding buy, if we would not have spent these funds by September 30 then it goes back to the donor,” she noted.
Mbayaki further called for the fast-tracking of the utilisation of the funds to enable the operationalization of the Kayole safe space,” Mbayaki said.
Going further, Musumba noted that the achievements made by the county government on ensuring SGBV survivors are safe are a great achievement.
"In the past, there was no dedicated body to address the complexities of SGBV; no obligation to provide extensive education or safe houses. But today we are working tirelessly with partners to ensure laws, shelter, and essential services are available to victims of SGBV as a matter of right," Musumba added.
Last month, City Hall signed an MOU with the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) for the construction of an Sh88 million Safehouse for SGBV survivors in Westlands.
In November last year, Kananu assented to the Gender-Based Violence bill which had an overall goal to accelerate efforts towards the elimination of all forms of GBV in Nairobi county and ensure perpetrators are severely punished.
City hall has called upon all of us to utilize the remaining six months of the project period to ensure we impact positively the lives of respective beneficiaries.
