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One in every two men in Murang’a County are victims of gender-based violence, a survey conducted in the area has revealed.

The survey conducted by the National Council for Population Development (NCPD) in 2022 also indicated that 48 per cent of men in the county had suffered GBV.

It further revealed that seven per cent of the women in the area have also been victims of GBV.

The county was ranked second nationally over the increased cases of gender-based violence rated at 52 per cent which has raised concern among the stakeholders.

Lucy Kimondo, Director for Public Education and Advocacy at NCPD, however, said the majority of men suffer in silence as they don’t report these cases.

Kimondo said the stigmatization towards men who are abused by their spouses remains the biggest challenge in addressing the matter.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ forum in Murang’a, she said it’s high time to demystify GBV and start talking about men who are violated.

“We have given so much focus on women who are abused by their partners and forget men who are undergoing the same in silence,” she remarked.

Gender desks

Kimondo also said the gender desks should also be friendly to men so that they get assistance when they go to report.

“Very few men will go to report in they are abused for their fear of being made a laughing stock in the society and this makes them shy away,” said Kimondo.

“We need to have a sober discussion on this issue and make it clear that gender-based voice is not about women and girls but also men and boys,” she added.

James Wachira the chairman of Evangelical Alliance of Kenya in the county said the church has a big role to play in curbing GBV by organizing seminars and offering counselling services.

Wachira, however, said alcoholism and drug abuse have largely contributed to increased cases of violence against men as they are not able to undertake their responsibilities.

“Men have indulged themselves in alcoholism which affects their health and they are also not able to carry out their duties and this makes them vulnerable” he said.

“We however need to have this debate and address the issues in the families to see if it would help end this trend,” added Wachira.