The SGBVRC in Wodange ward, Sabatia subcounty/FAITH MATETE
Governor Wilber Ottichilo at the official launch of the SGBVRC in Sabatia/FAITH MATETE
Governor Wilber Ottichilo at the official launch of the SGBVRC in Wodange, Sabatia/FAITH MATETEThe launch of Vihiga’s first Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centre is a long-awaited relief for Mary (not her real name).
Two years ago, she stumbled into a sub-county hospital after a violent attack by her husband. Doctors stitched her wounds, but beyond medical care, she had nowhere safe to stay, no counselling, and no legal guidance.
“I healed outside, but inside I was broken,” she recalls. “If this place had existed then, maybe I would not have gone back to him.”
Mary’s story echoes those of many survivors in Vihiga, which consistently ranks among the top three counties nationally in reported cases of gender-based violence, with countless others hidden by stigma and silence.
On Monday, Governor Wilber Ottichilo presided over the official launch of the SGBVRC in Sabatia subcounty, calling it both a milestone and a promise. “This centre is a safe space for survivors but, ultimately, my vision is that in the next five to ten years, we should not need it. Prevention must be our priority,” he said.
Built on county land and funded through the office of the Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala, the facility became operational after policies and systems were finalised in 2024. It will offer survivors medical, psychosocial, legal, and shelter support.
The project is the result of years of advocacy and collaboration between Vthe ihiga government, civil society groups, SHOFCO, UNDP, and international partners. Dorothy Okemo of Access to Medicines Transparency Alliance – Kenya described the centre as “the culmination of years of advocacy, policy work, and grassroots mobilisation.”
Already, community-led Haki Mashinani forums have been rolled out across 25 wards, bringing together chiefs, healthcare workers, prosecutors, faith leaders, and youth to champion prevention and accountability.
County health CEC Dr Ruth Agesa said the facility will provide HIV prophylaxis, wound care, psychosocial support, and expert medical testimony in court.
“Survivors need to report within 72 hours for us to collect forensic evidence and offer effective treatment,” she said, warning that delays often weaken prosecutions and worsen health risks.
Legal and child protection officers present highlighted frequent case collapses due to intimidation and the need for child survivors to be placed in safe shelters.
Governor Ottichilo emphasised that GBV cannot be solved by government alone.
“Everyone must be concerned about
this menace. We cannot keep treating wounds without stopping the violence
itself. The best solution is prevention, and that begins in our homes and
communities,” he said.
For Mary and countless others, the centre symbolises more than bricks and mortar. It is a promise that survivors will no longer have to walk alone, healing without support or seeking justice without guidance.
The launch of Vihiga’s Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centre is more than a county milestone—it signals how devolution can directly address national crises. Governor Wilber Ottichilo’s framing of the centre as both a refuge and a step toward prevention underscores his attempt to tie policy delivery to legacy. Yet, the initiative also reflects growing pressure on counties to institutionalise SGBV responses through law, budgets, and community mobilisation. With Vihiga ranking among the worst-hit counties, the centre’s success will hinge on sustainability, political will, and whether prevention truly keeps pace with rising cases.
