Bomet senator Hillary Sigei has raised concern over the increasing cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and homicide in Bomet County, warning that the trend is becoming a serious social and security crisis that demands urgent intervention from all sectors of society.
In a statement, the senator said security agencies in the county have confirmed that GBV incidents are now being reported almost daily, with cases of defilement, domestic violence, wife battering, assault and other sexual offences continuing to rise across various sub-counties.
According to statistics cited by the senator, GBV prevalence in the county currently stands at 44.4 percent, while assault cases are also at 44.4 percent.
Defilement cases account for 34.9 percent, while murder prevalence stands at 11.1 percent.
Sigei noted that behind the statistics are devastated families, traumatised children, widowed parents and communities struggling with the effects of violence and insecurity.
“These statistics represent broken families, traumatised children, widowed parents and a society slowly losing its moral fabric,” he said.
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Sigei called on leaders, parents, religious organisations, professionals and community members to work together in ending the vice, saying the fight against GBV cannot be left to security agencies alone.
He particularly condemned the growing tendency of settling sexual offences through informal arrangements within families and communities, warning that such practices deny victims justice while allowing offenders to escape punishment.
Sigei urged residents to report cases promptly and protect victims instead of shielding perpetrators, stressing that silence and compromise continue to fuel the crisis.
He further emphasized the need for stronger community awareness, law enforcement and support systems for survivors of violence, especially women and children who remain the most affected.
The senator’s remarks come amid growing national concern over increasing cases of GBV and femicide reported in different parts of the country, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of laws and enhanced protection for vulnerable groups.
By Philip Koech
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