The National Gender and Equality Commission will establish a gender-based violence rescue centre to help victims in Nyamira county.
CEO Betty Nyabuto on Friday said the commission is in consultation with the county government on setting up the facility to help counsel and handling the cases.
“The commission is in consultation with the County Government of Nyamira and the Interior ministry to ensure the facilities have been set up, a move that will go a long way in serving victims of gender and other forms of violence in the county,” she said.
She spoke at the county headquarters in Nyamira town during the conclusion of the five-day tour in the region.
"The centres will have a police unit for Occurrence Book records, a counselling wing and a medical desk," she said.
The commission leaders were with Gender CEC Dr Grace Nyamongo, Environment CEC Samwel Maiko among other leaders.
The commission vice chair Chomba Munyi said they take keen interest on special interest groups such as women, children, persons with disability, minority groups and marginalised groups.
According to the National Dialogue Reference Group, 14 per cent of cases of violence on women that occur in Nyamira are gender-based. Among the cases, rape and defilement tops the list.
Other counties which have high rates of gender-based violence include Meru, Marsabit, Kilifi, Elgeyo, Marakwet and Nyandarua.
The commission noted that many cases of gender-based violence are now on the rise and there was concern that they were soaring to worrying limits.
According to the commission, education on gender based issues is key in helping the communities to tame the vice.
“We are going on with sensitisation campaigns aimed at creating awareness on prevention of cases of gender-based violence,” Nyabuto said.
-Edited by SKanyara
