By Guest Writer June 25, 2026 11:23 (EAT)

https://zeno.fm/radio/radio-fortune-africa

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By Dr Angeline Chepchirchir Kirui

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations in Kenya today. Despite years of advocacy, legal reforms, awareness campaigns and policy interventions, violence against women and girls continues to exert a devastating toll on individuals, families, communities and the nation’s socio-economic development. GBV is deep-rooted, with its ugly face only captured when reporting occurs, while much of it goes undocumented.

Recent statistics present a sobering reality. According to Human Rights Watch, based on incidents reported in 2024, an average of 13 women and girls are killed every week in Kenya, while approximately 130 cases of sexual violence are reported during the same period.

Overall, GBV cases in Nandi County appear lower than the national average statistically, but this likely reflects underreporting. The figures represent more than numbers on a page. They tell the story of women living in fear, children carrying lifelong trauma, families struggling to heal, and communities grappling with the far-reaching consequences of preventable violence.

The persistence of this crisis compels us to ask a difficult but necessary question: Why does gender-based violence remain so deeply entrenched and what more must we do to end it? 

One thing is clear: the definition of GBV is not universal in the community due to variations in cultural perceptions. Different contexts assign different values to similar acts of abuse, making it difficult to have a universal reference and qualification criteria. The lack of uniformity in qualification demands context-specific approaches. 

Lack of exposure makes some survivors doubt themselves and end up assuming blame for the abuse meted out to them. This contributes to the commonly observed tolerance of economic, physical, social and psychological violence by survivors. 

Physical abuse is the most visible and highly reported type due to the medical care interface that exposes the abuse, while psychological, social and economic forms of abuse are the most complex and difficult to measure, depending largely on subjective reporting and evaluation. 

Kenyans have increasingly demanded that gender-based violence be treated not merely as a social concern, but as a national crisis requiring urgent and sustained action. For many years, discussions have been framed primarily through the lens of justice and law enforcement.

While accountability remains essential, this perspective alone is insufficient. Gender-based violence is equally a public health emergency. Survivors often require immediate medical care, mental health interventions, counselling, legal assistance and long-term rehabilitation. The physical wounds may heal, but the psychological scars frequently endure for years affecting survivors’ well-being, productivity, relationships and overall quality of life.

Unfortunately, access to comprehensive support services remains uneven across the country. Survivors in rural and underserved communities often face significant barriers in obtaining timely and confidential care. Distance to health facilities, stigma, financial constraints and lack of specialised services frequently discourage reporting and delay treatment, compounding the harm already suffered.

This reality underscores the importance of bringing integrated services closer to communities. It is in this context that Nandi County recently partnered with Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK), Taylors of Harrogate, and Infre to establish a Gender Based Violence and Mental Health Clinic at Nandi Hills County Hospital representing a significant step forward.

The facility provides integrated care that includes medical treatment, trauma counselling, mental health support and referral services within a safe and confidential environment. The clinic provides temporary accommodation to survivors before relocation to safe spaces or reintegration in the community. This is a crucial step that offers adequate comfort to survivors to receive skilled care in a quiet and comfortable environment.  

Such public-private investments are important as they improve access to care and demonstrate a fundamental principle that should guide our national response.

Ending gender-based violence is not the responsibility of the government alone; due to the complexity of the challenge, it demands a whole-of-society approach. It demands the mobilization of public institutions, private sector actors, civil society organizations, faith-based groups, community leaders and citizens alike.

The private sector has a critical role to play in addressing gender-based violence, which affects workplaces through reduced productivity, absenteeism, and declining employee wellbeing. investing in community sensitization, prevention programs, survivor support and community partnerships builds resilient communities.

At the same time, we must address the root causes of GBV, including harmful social norms, gender inequality, economic vulnerability, and substance abuse. Sustainable progress will require prevention efforts that transform attitudes and behaviours before violence occurs. A framework of multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary strategies is needed to ensure a multi-pronged attack on the problem.

Communities are central to this effort. Schools, families, faith-based institutions, and local leaders must work together to promote healthy relationships and challenge harmful stereotypes, while actively engaging men and boys as partners in prevention.

Victims must also know they are not alone. Communities should foster environments where victims are supported, believed and connected to services without fear or stigma. Safe shelters must be created for survivors to provide refuge and care as they restore their dignity and psychological wellbeing.  

Ultimately, ending gender-based violence requires more than awareness. It demands sustained targeted investment, stronger partnerships, accessible services and collective action. Every victim deserves safety, every family deserves peace and every community deserves the opportunity to thrive free from violence.

The writer is the County Executive Member for Health & Sanitation, Nandi County