• Youthful males aged between 18-33 years are the main perpetrators of gender-based violence, a report has revealed.
• The report by the National Crime Research Centre indicates that this cluster of youth are in family or intimate partner relationship context.
Males aged between 18 and 33 years are the main perpetrators of gender-based violence, a report has revealed.
The report by the National Crime Research Centre indicates that this cluster of youth are in a family or intimate partner relationship context.
The report on the State of Crime across the country further indicates that 71 per cent of the 2,416 cases of GBV (that is, 1,716 cases) reported between January and June 2020 were female victims.
This indicates that at least 10 females are victims of gender-based violence on a daily basis.
The report said these victims are majorly girls, women and children.
Alcohol, drug and substance abuse, poverty, family/ domestic disputes and retrogressive cultural (including religious) beliefs and practices and male dominance (including undermining masculinity) remain the main factors contributing to these forms of violence.
Other factors include poor parenting/upbringing and moral decadence, identity crisis among the youthful population and inadequate support system.
According to the report, a review done established that the number of GBV cases recorded between January and June 2020 had an increase of 92.2% compared with those of between January and December 2019.
The most common forms of GBV, as categorized and handled and/or recorded by different key state and non-state agencies between January and June 2020 were assault, physical assault, rape/attempted rape, murder, sexual offences, defilement, grievous harm, physical abuse, child marriage, psychological torture and child neglect," read part of the report.
The most common forms of GBV handled and/or recorded by different key state and non-state agencies during the 3-months COVID-19 restrictions period of April to June 2020 were murder, sexual offences, defilement, grievous harm, attempted defilement, sexual abuse, physical abuse and child marriage.
The forms of GBV which recorded an increase in the number of cases during the 3-months Covid-19 restrictions period of April to June 2020 were defilement, attempted rape, rape, subjecting children to torture, attempted defilement, gang rape, gang defilement, threatening to kill, attempted murder, arson, sexual communication with a child, sexual abuse, physical abuse, child abduction/kidnapping, emotional abuse, child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child prostitution, child radicalization and online abuse.
According to the report, there is a likelihood of an increase in family-based crimes, offences and violations partly due to the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report said there is a sustained prevalence and escalating trend of physical violence within the family set up orchestrated majorly by the male figure.
"There is a confirmed escalating trend of violations of children’s rights including girl child disempowerment," read part of the report.
This the report said has increased a likelihood of teenage pregnancy, school drop-out and juvenile delinquency.
"There is a link between dysfunctional socio-cultural value system within the family and the increasing cases of gender-based violence, violations of children’s rights and girl child disempowerment," the report said.
According to the report, there is observable variations/inconsistency in data categorization, capture and reporting among different agencies addressing issues of GBV and violations of children’s rights in Kenya.
"This causes disparity in reported (known to police) and unreported cases largely captured by other state departments, hence negating the spirit of integration and multi-agency/sector approach in addressing public safety and security in Kenya," it said.
The report in its conclusion notes that there is a likelihood of post-COVID-19 period confounding the forms of family-based crimes and violations in the country because of the uncertainties and unpredictability of the pandemic.