Gender PS Calls for Stronger Partnerships to Address Rising GBV Cases in Kenya
She further urged counties to budget adequately for gender programs and ramp up the referral mechanisms at the local levels.
The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, Anne Wang’ombe. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action Anne Wang’ombe urged closer collaboration between the National and County governments to curb the increasing cases of Gender-Based Violence throughout the country.
Wang’ombe made the appeal during the official handover of a multimillion-shilling Safe House in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, where she noted that the situation calls for urgent concerted interventions at increased financing and better prevention and response systems. The Safe House will provide protection, psychosocial support, legal advice, and temporary shelter for survivors of GBV.
The PS noted that despite progress in policy development and awareness campaigns, Gender Based Violence GBV remains a major public health and human rights concern in Kenya. Citing findings from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, she said 34 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced some form of violence, while one in three has suffered sexual violence from an intimate partner.
“These numbers are alarming and demand a multi-sectoral, well-resourced approach,” said Wang’ombe. “We cannot achieve meaningful progress in this without collaboration between national and county institutions, community organisations and development partners.”
In Homa Bay County, the situation is most critical as it records some of the highest rates of GBV in the country. From the survey, 54 per cent of women in that county have experienced Gender-Based Violence, with 23 per cent reporting sexual violence. Other counties grappling with high GBV prevalence include Kiambu, Meru, Nakuru, and Machakos.
Wang’ombe underscored that such prevention cannot stop at punitive measures alone. She called for increased investment in community education, early intervention systems, gender-responsive policing, and survivor-centred support services. She further urged counties to budget adequately for gender programs and ramp up the referral mechanisms at the local levels.
“As a government, we must invest in robust response systems, including Safe Houses, hotlines, rescue centres, and trained personnel,” she said. “But counties must also play their part by ensuring these structures operate smoothly.”
Local leaders hailed the new Safe House, saying it would help address the missing gaps in response capacity in a region where survivors often have minimal access to safe accommodation or professional support. Civil society groups also urged authorities to continue scaling up such facilities across other high-risk counties. Wang’ombe reiterated the government’s resolve toward ridding society of GBV, saying the partnership with counties, communities, and civil society is key to the protection of vulnerable groups and advancing gender equality.
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