Gaps in justice process denies GBV survivors fair play— lobbies

There are still gaps preventing justice for survivors of gender-based violence as a compendium of victims' voices in Kisumu county is launched.

Equality Now in partnership with several other local women’s rights organisations sought the voices of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence to understand their reality and specifically their experiences as they seek to access justice.

The book comprises of 50 stories from survivors from Kisumu, Kajiado, Narok, Kwale and Busia counties.

The book had been launched earlier by the Chief Justice and now is being inaugurated in the counties.

The stories depict the struggle for justice for survivors in Kenya despite the country having robust laws that should prevent, protect and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. 

The stories reveal pervasive socio-economic factors that continue to be a catalyst for sexual exploitation as well as child and teenage pregnancies.

While launching the Kisumu chapter, KMET communication officer Cindy Aketch said they amplified 10 voices of survivors in Kisumu.

Aketch said from the cases, they realised there were still gaps in the justice process.

“Of course we have done so much at the ground level, created awareness, capacity building among different grassroots CSOs to know how to go about gender violence cases, including the reporting procedures,”Aketch said.

She said they have also trained healthcare providers from public hospitals and police on how to handle survivors at the gender desk.

“Despite all this, the main gap we identified common among the stories was at the justice process. There seems to be a disconnect when the cases reach courts because most of them are reported and no justice received.”

She added from the 10 cases highlighted from Kisumu, non of them got justice.

During the launch, various stakeholders noted that a number of factors affected GBV cases, where families and even close relatives interfered with the matters, and the period they take in courts.

Kisumu Central OCPD James Ngetich said the history of cases, interference from family members and non-cooperation from victims have stalled most GBV cases in Kisumu.

“Another challenge is releasing the perpetrator on bond and as a result, they escape to other places. This is one of the reasons  most of these cases have stalled and victims failed to get justice,” he said.

He, however, said that having understood the kind of interference with GBV cases in the country, he is training his officers to remain firm, fair and transparent.

There are plans to establish three children protection in Obunga, Nyalenda and Migosi through the support of partners who are at the forefront of fighting GBV.

Ngetich said the units comes at a time when child exploitation cases and abuse are on the rise at an alarming rate in the county.

“We want to build confidence of our people in the police towards this coming election period. This is why we are coming deep down in the slums to meet our people. We are working with human rights activists to ensure this is fruitful,” he said.

-Edited by SKanyara