During a public sensitization forum in Elgeyo Marakwet County, concerns were raised over increasing cases of Gender-Based Violence despite ongoing awareness and prevention campaigns.
Describing the rising trend as “alarming and retrogressive” Keiyo North Deputy County Commissioner Maureen Mokeira called for urgent and coordinated action to address the issue.
“The rising cases of Gender-Based Violence are deeply concerning. It’s a retrogressive trend that threatens the safety and dignity of our communities,” said Mokeira.
She criticized the growing tendency of handling GBV cases through informal or out-of-court settlements, stressing that such cases should be processed through legal channels to ensure justice for victims.
“These matters should not be resolved at the family or village level. Gender-Based Violence is a criminal offense and must be handled through the law,” she emphasized.
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Mokeira outlined the devastating impacts of GBV, which include trauma, broken families, long-term mental health issues, and in severe cases, death.
“The consequences are far-reaching. We must work together; government agencies, civil society, and the community, to eradicate this vice,” the Deputy County Commissioner added.
According to local reports, the most common forms of GBV in Kenya’s North Rift region include physical and sexual violence, psychological abuse, economic deprivation, and harmful traditional practices such as forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
These abuses are often fueled by a combination of conflict, poverty, and entrenched cultural norms, which continue to expose vulnerable populations, especially women and children, to exploitation and harm.
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Mokeira also noted that displacement caused by local conflicts, such as cattle rustling, further increases exposure to violence and instability.
“Conflict-induced displacement creates unsafe environments where women and children are at heightened risk of abuse. We must also address the root causes of insecurity in our region,” she said.
The Deputy County Commissioner urged communities to speak out against GBV, report offenders, and support survivors in their recovery journeys.
As GBV cases continue to rise across Elgeyo Marakwet and the larger North Rift region, calls are growing louder for both preventive action and stronger enforcement of existing laws to protect the rights and dignity of all citizens.
By Kimutai Langat
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