CS rallies stakeholders to tackle Gender-Based Violence in Baringo

BENSON KELIO AND JOSHUA KIBET-KNA

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Gender, Culture, and Children Services, Hanna Cheptumo, has called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the alarming rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Baringo County.

Cheptumo made the appeal while presiding over the commissioning of a GBV recovery centre at Baringo County Referral Hospital in Kabarnet.

She expressed concern over the troubling rise in cases of defilement, rape, femicide, and teenage pregnancies in the county.

Referring to a report by the Presidential Technical Working Group on GBV, the CS noted that 37.9 percent of women aged 15–49 had experienced physical violence.

The report further indicated that in 2023 alone, 41 cases of rape and 18 cases of femicide were recorded.

Cheptumo, who was accompanied by Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi and other officials, was also briefed that 32 girls in Baringo Central Sub-County had fallen victim to teenage pregnancies.

According to the CS, the report paints a grim picture of a county once known for its cultural values.

She emphasized that it is high time all actors came together to cushion the vulnerable population.

“These are not just figures, they represent daughters whose futures were cut short, mothers whose lives were taken, children robbed off their innocence and families left in anguish,” she said.

Cheptumo while opening the one stop centre to support survivors in receiving medical care, forensic analysis, psychosocial counselling, legal representation called for strengthened coordination between health facilities, police, judiciary, Office of Director of Public Prosecution, the judiciary, children services and community based structures.

Governor Cheboi acknowledged the challenge which he said is an eye opener to his administration to shift focus from medical treatment to investing in psychosocial counsellors who normally attend to the survivors of GBV.

He added that his administration will work in handy with multi-sectoral agencies to arrest the situation.