Gender commission launches governance campaign in 15 counties

The gender commission will launch a three-day public forum to promote gender awareness in governance and development in Wajir.

The National Gender and Equality Commission has partnered with Humanity & Inclusion, a non governmental organisation, in the programme.

NGEC director for programmes and research Paul Kuria said that Wajir was among 15 counties targeted for the project.

Kuria spoke on Wednesday when they paid a courtesy call on Wajir county secretary Abdullahi Hassan.

The leaders discussed how Maslah, (a form of alternative justice system) hinders justice for survivors of gender based violence and female genital mutilation.

FGM remains rampant in northeastern as it continues to be practiced secretly.

Statistics show that 9.5 million girls below the age of 18 are cut every year.

The Somali community leads at 98 per cent, followed by Samburu at 94 per cent.

Kuria said the team will facilitate access to a justice legal aid clinic on Thursday 16 at Wajir police station.

He says they will fast track gender-related cases especially in gender based violence to improve prevention, response and management of GBV in the county.

NGEC is a constitutional commission established pursuant to article 59(4) and (5) of Kenya, 2010 under the National Gender and Equality Commission Act, 2011.

The commission’s mandate is to promote gender equality and freedom from discrimination for all people in Kenya with a focus on special interests groups.

The groups include women, persons with disability, children, youth, older members of society, minority and marginalised groups.

The director urged Kenyans to fully make good use of it by seeking services.

Brenda Gathenya, Gender and Disability project manager with HI said issues of GBV continue to happen unabated with most victims suffering in silence.

She blamed this on lack of awareness on where victims are supposed to report and get help.

Also, victimisation from family members to drop the cases all together and have it resolved through the Maslah.

“HI in an international non-governmental organisation founded in 1982 and has been working in Kenya since 1992.

It is engaged in projects aimed at improving living conditions of people with disabilities in situations of poverty and exclusion and conflict and disaster. 

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)