Mombasa has reported the highest number of defilement cases out of 13 counties sampled, a report by the National Crime Research Centre indicates.
The report released on Friday showed defilement was high in Mombasa at 60.0 per cent, followed by Machakos at 58.3 per cent, Kisii (57.1 per cent) and Nairobi (24.5 per cent). Nyeri recorded the lowest defilement cases at 17.5 per cent.
Mombasa also recorded the highest rates of wife/husband battery with a prevalence rate of 97.7 per cent followed by Machakos at 95.2per cent.
Kilifi ranked highest for rape cases at 97.9 per cent followed by Kisii 85.7 per cent, Machakos 71.4 per cent, Mombasa 66.7 per cent, Nairobi at 64.9 per cent and Samburu at 7.9 per cent.
"The leading the counties in marital rape were Kisii at 42.9 per cent and Mombasa at 22.2 per cent," read the report.
Gender based violence in the form of sexual deprivation was highest in Machakos at 13.1 per cent, 12.3 per cent in Nakuru and 11.7 per cent in Nairobi.
A Children Officer based in Meru county who was interviewed during the study said cases of violence against women were common in the male-dominated society.
"I have handled cases of husbands who have battered and maimed their wives and children after disagreeing in the family. It is not strange to hear that a woman is taking casual jobs to feed the family when the husband is enjoying proceeds from sale of miraa with commercial sex workers," he stated.