When cases of gender-based violence rose during the Covid pandemic, many victims did not know where to seek help.
Those who experienced intimate partner violence were especially conflicted about how to speak out to get help.
With Kenya not having many safe houses, especially government-owned ones, the few that were still open were full.
Consolata Waithaka, the founder of Women’s Hope Shelter Kenya in Nairobi, she said women flocked to her centre seeking asylum.
She spoke on Tuesday during the virtual launch of a report titled Women’s Experiences on Intimate Partner Violence by the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness.
“We had a number of women seeking our help during that time, but some of them were coming from far. If only there were centres that were nearer to them, then maybe they would have gotten help even sooner,” Waithaka said.
She said the government should hasten its efforts to construct rescue centres for victims, especially at the grassroots level.
Waithaka said when women come to her centre, they require a lot of support to ensure that they heal completely from the trauma inflicted on them.
“Unfortunately, because some women come to us having left their children behind while running away from abusive partners, they are constantly anxious to return home to them,” she said.
Returning home to their children, Waithaka said, also means returning to the abusive partner and without proper counselling, the women often step back into the cycle of abuse.
She said rescue centres should include childcare facilities to put victims’ minds at ease.
According to the research by CREAW, women in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, Narok and Isiolo reported an increase in the frequency and severity of violence from their partners.
Lead researcher Linah Digolo said the government should not let down its guard just because Covid-19 containment measures have been eased.
“Even though containment measures have begun to ease, the social and economic impact of the pandemic will linger on for a while. Therefore, the risk factors of IPV are likely to continue,” she said.
