Kiambu government has set aside funds to establish rescue center for gender-based violence survivors, Deputy Governor Joyce Ngugi has said.
Speaking on Friday in Thika where she opened Salama Rescue Centre, Ngugi said GBV cases in Kiambu have increased since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, which has made the county to hasten the process.
She attributed the increase to alcoholism and drugs abuse due to joblessness and frustrations.
"We have received many cases of rape and domestic violence since coronavirus got into our country, which is why we need to set up a rescue centre to save the survivors," Ngugi said.
She added that the county is working with the police and the Judiciary to ensure perpetrators are punished and survivors get justice.
She said the county is willing to support organisations supporting GBV survivors, by providing sanitary towels, bedding and psychosocial support.
“I want to ask those who rape our young girls and women to stop. This is making them drop out of school and their future get destroyed, and worse still, it can lead to generational curses,” Ngugi said.
Girl Child Network executive director Mercy Musomi applauded the government for ensuring GBV survivors get help easily by introducing GBV desks in police stations, and hospitals having friendly places where survivors can report easily.
“We fought so hard for these and we are glad to know that even the Constitution requires every county to set up a rescue center, which means a lot to us,” Musoni said.
She said the new Salama Rescue Centre will provide GBV survivors with psychosocial support and counselling, referring survivors to the police and accompanying them to hospital.
Musoni said they will partner with the medical facilities in the county for easy access by victims.
“We will encourage those who are under 18 years to go back to school, but those who don’t want to go back to school will be taught basic skills such tailoring, computer literacy and hair dressing,” Musoni said
A study by UNAIDS in 2018 revealed among marginalised populations, 32 per cent of young women aged 18-24 years and 18 per cent of their male counterparts report experiencing sexual violence.
