Gender Violence rocks Naivasha

Gender based violence has been a crunch issue in the country with hundreds of cases reported weekly.

 In Naivasha, Nakuru county, Community Health Workers (CHW) are now decrying the rising cases of Gender Based Violence and Sexual abuse in the region, with informal settlements around the town as the most affected.

County governments have been urged to support the fight against Gender Based Violence as the group indicated they have no funding therefore; they were currently working from their pockets.

Incidents of suicide have also been on the rise in the town with unemployment, depression and use of drugs blamed for the cases.

According to statistics from Naivasha Gender Cluster Group, at least four cases of abuse are reported in the town every week.

However, many of the victims do not know their rights, therefore, most of the cases are resolved out of court despite nursing serious injuries.

According to John Kinuthia from Naivasha Gender Cluster Group the numbers keep increasing on a daily basis

“We have noticed an upsurge in cases of GBV, defilement and sodomy and we are grateful for the role that the health workers are doing in assisting the victims,” he said.

According to medical superintendent Dr Bernard Warui, the county recognized the efforts of the community health workers which included helping in counselling sessions and identifying defaulters and making sure that they took their medication as required.

“The community health workers are part of the health care system and we are working closely in supporting the sick and those who cannot make it to hospital," he said.

The community health workers are also calling on the government to prioritize championing the fight about gender-based violence.