Gender-based violence remains a major social problem affecting many families in Kenya, a new report has documented. The annual report that details occurrences between 2011 to 2012 released yesterday at a Nairobi hotel by the Gender Violence Recovery Centre said the number of gender based violence has increased since 2010. In all cases documented between 2011 and 2012, 2,532 cases were related to sexual violence and 422 were of physical violence.
“Sexual violence remained the most commonly reported form of abuse throughout the year. Women and girls bore the greatest burden of pain and suffering,” Grace Wangechi GVRC executive director said during her presentation.
The report said women accounted for 49 per cent of the gender based violence cases reported. Though the cases among men and boys were relatively low, Wangechi said many cases go unreported. “Reason cited as inhibiting reporting amongst men and boys include the fear of stigmatisation and shame associated with the ordeal,” she said
A total of 64 per cent of survivors of violence reported that offenders of the violence were ‘known’ to them, 11 per cent of the survivors refused to identify the offenders due to close family relationships, fear, or threats of further violence or even death.
The report further indicated that Nairobi accounted for more than 73 per cent of gender-based violence cases reported with slums being the main affected areas.