Sexual and gender-based violence is an omnipresent human rights violation and continues to be interminable and injurious to the majority globally. It remains one of the most persistent barriers to gender equality and sustainable development. SGBV is largely unreported due to impunity, corruption, silence and stigma.
At the moment, Kenya is experiencing an increase in the number of killings and abuses meted on women. A few of the highlighted cases are traumatic, with women being beaten, stabbed, raped and murdered in short-term rental houses popularly referred to as Airbnb. This is a reflection of the growing moral decay in society and the government needs to review its strategy in addressing the vice.
It remains a weighty human rights and public health issue. It is therefore salient to identify the factors that lead to gender inequality, unequal power relations, gender discrimination and cultural norms as well as the evolving technology that contribute to SGBV.
A national survey carried out in 2022 indicated about a third of Kenyan females have experienced some form of physical violence. SGBV includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and psychological abuse, threats, coercion and denial of economic or educational rights, whether occurring in public or private life.
Various reports and findings provide evidence from the grassroots on the link between GBV, teenage pregnancies and high HIV prevalence among adolescents and young women aged 15-24.
A total of 110,821 pregnancies were recorded among adolescents aged between the ages of 10 to 19 in the first five months of 2023. Data from the Kenya Health Information Systems shows a total of 6,110 were among adolescents aged between 10 to 14 years while another 104,711 were between the ages of 15 and 19. This is almost half of what was recorded in 2022, which stood at 260,734. The pregnancies were 316,187 in 2021 and 331,549 in 2020. The trend remains worrisome.
SGBV is regulated by several international and national laws, policies, guidelines and treaties including the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights but it remains minimally discussed with ease at country, county levels or among communities.
The government’s strategy in addressing SGBV appears to be scarcely effective. There is a need to strengthen the justice system to effectively prosecute the perpetrators for justice for all SGBV survivors and tame corruption that continues to cause gaps in the implementation of the existing laws.
The 2024 report that was recently released by the National Gender and Equality Commission anchored on advocating equality through progressive policies for a fairer future for all highlighted the 2023 inequality diagnosis affecting the country and provided a national inclusive development framework for the marginalised communities.
The report further provided the status of gender equality and inclusion in the public sector as well as a prototype model for gender mainstreaming policy for TVETs. This is commendable, such reports ought to be analysed and implemented to curb the fight against GBV.
The NGEC report shared policy solutions needed to promote and improve research and statistical data, and the need to invest in medium and long-term prevention efforts to reduce and end violence against women and girls.
It is imperative for the state and non-state actors and collaborators to heed the call and fully support ministries, commissions, partners, media and civil society groups championing the warfare against SGBV. The resources towards NGEC should be doubled for it to establish its structures and presence across the 47 counties.
Addressing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality are fundamental for environmental work that meaningfully contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The government's effort to ratify the International Labour Organization Conventions C190 and C189, which focus on ending all forms of violence and harassment in the world of work, is paramount.
There is an urgent need for government–sponsored national campaigns to address SGBV and its consequences. Let us review the policies and laws around Cyber GBV that are on a spiral.
As a country, we need to holistically buttress the campaign against GBV, right from household units, learning institutions, places of social gathering, churches, mosques and entertainment joints, among other areas.
