Nominated Senator Esther ‘Essy’ Okenyuri now says that the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) and femicide is a collective effort involving both men and women.
Speaking after leading a march against the vices in Kisii, on Friday, Okenyuri insisted that it should not be seen as women fighting men.
“This fight against Gender Based Violence and Femicide is a collaborative effort of men and women, it is not a fight of women against men. It is essential to note that Gender Based Violence is not a women's issue alone rather a human issue, a societal crisis that calls for our collective attention.
“Men play an important role in the fight by ensuring that survivors are supported and acting as advocates for the respect of women and preservation of their dignity. The most definitive change is when men and women collaboratively stand, break the silence and speak against archaic cultural tendencies and beliefs that could lead to the fragmentation of the society,” she said.
The Senator noted GVB and femicide are interlinked as one is as a result of the other.
She described the two vices as evils that must not be normalised at all, adding that they also thrive in silence.
Okenyuri called on all Kenyans to reject systems that protect perpetrators from getting punished for their crimes.
“Gender based violence and femicide are not isolated cases, they are intertwined at the hip and one of them is a culmination of the other. The two are systemic evils deeply seated in silence, subservience, inequality and impunity.
“Let’s therefore not normalize abuse, systems that shield perpetrators from the whip of Karma and justice and the silence that allows violence to thrive. For every life lost, it should be a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied,” the Senator stated.
Okenyuri led residents and members of civil societies and other stakeholders, including men and women in a solidarity walk that culminated at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.
She described the march as a shared act of conscience.
“This walk was a shared act of conscience, we walked not only for women and girls who have been disproportionately affected by violence but also for men and boys who have suffered in silence or witnessed perpetuation of insensitive acts.”
