Residents of Bomet County have taken stock of the rising number of gender-based violence (GBV) incidents with concern and determination to have the barbaric practice put to an end.

A section of residents from various regions who gathered at St Josephine Bakhita Skills Centre during a public forum convened to address the pressing issue of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide decried the rising cases of gender violence and called for government agencies to help bolster public awareness against the outdated vice.

The forum held in Bomet is part of a national initiative led by the Technical Working Group on GBV and Femicide, established in January by President William Ruto, with a mandate to collect public input and recommend comprehensive strategies to combat the growing GBV and femicide cases.

Chief Officers’ concerns

Pauline Korir, the chief officer in charge of gender in Bomet, expressed her deep concern over increasing GBV incidents across the county and outlined the measures the county government of Bomet was taking to address the situation.

“As residents of Bomet, we have shared our concerns and are working together to ensure GBV is eradicated through the various strategies we have set up,” she said.

She called upon everyone in Bomet to support the initiative towards the stoppage of gender-based violence by promoting amicable domestic conflict resolution mechanisms or legal redress so as to uphold human dignity and the sanctity of life, devoid of violence or maiming of others.

Korir said that the county government, through the gender department, had allocated resources to train people and provide alternatives such as agricultural programmes and equal economic empowerment, especially for youth and women, to empower and keep them engaged in productive activities, besides keeping them away from crime.

Her remarks were echoed by Rachel Gitau, a community advocate, who pointed out underlying cultural and social issues that exacerbate the situation, with parents failing to play their roles in mentoring their children away from taking the law into their in violently reacting to their partners.

“Parents are increasingly neglecting their responsibilities, especially toward children living with disabilities. Cultural practices and stigma also fuel gender-based violence, and we must challenge them,” she said.

James Nombi, a member of the National Force, emphasised that the team was on a mission to collect views from all 47 counties to compile a comprehensive report for final presentation to the president.

“Femicide is not clearly defined in our laws. We want to distinguish it from homicide to improve how these cases are handled legally. Our report will be presented and acted upon,” he noted.

Rongena-Manaret ward representative Roselyn Cheptoo revealed that the county government of Bomet is finalising a sexual and gender-based violence policy. She appealed to the national government to support implementation through legal aid and protection for witnesses.

GBV survivors’ plight

She noted that GBV survivors and their witnesses are often threatened by perpetrators, and without proper witness protection, justice risked being compromised.

Residents raised concerns that most reported GBV cases are never prosecuted, calling upon the team to ensure that all loopholes were sealed and a long-lasting solution found to see to the successful prosecution of GBV-related cases.

“Since January, we’ve had 11 cases of femicide in Bomet. Most of the suspects are habitual drunkards. Unfortunately, due to financial challenges, victims drop cases before they reach court,” said Elizabeth Sang.

She further observed that since most perpetrators of GBV were male, the overemphasis on the girl child in empowerment programmes over time could have bred deep-seated resentment among the boys who feel neglected, hence compensating in their adult stage by meting out violence against women.

Sang noted that while empowering the girl child, society was forgetting the boy child, and this imbalance has contributed to moral decay among men, who end up begrudging the women naturally, and once a chance arises, they get back by violently attacking them.

She appealed for the equal treatment of both boys and girls to curb the difference, which could be predisposing to gender-based violence in the country.