Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia says the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to an increase in Gender-Based Violence cases in the country.
According to the CS, in Kenya, only 10 percent of cases are reported by men while 90 percent are reported by women.
She said that poverty, unemployment, job losses, conflict of resources, alcohol and substance abuse and depression encourage such cases which are a barrier to gender equality.
Kobia was honoring the global 16 days of activism against gender-based violence which began on 25 November.
Speaking during an interview at a local TV Station, she said “What is more important is that COVID-19 pandemic has increased reported cases of GBV because people are confined with attackers and because it is silenced, the problem is compounded."
The CS also asserted that the government will enhance the empowerment and sensitization people on the GBV by liaising with civil societies and community-based organisations.
The information needed by the victims will also be highlighted.
She added, “There is great need to create awareness and to know the framework of reporting such cases, especially the steps you need to go through when one experiences GBV.”
Kobia acknowledged that majority of victims experience difficulty in speaking about the violence because of what she termed as ‘societal norms’ of protecting family members, who are usually the perpetrators.
“Sometimes, the perpetrator is someone you rely on and because you are purely dependent on them financially, you won’t speak out because you are the one who will be disadvantaged,” the CS said.
She also urged Kenyans to speak up against the violence experienced within communities to enable all stakeholders to address the problem effectively.
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