Activists of the sexual and gender based violence march in Kiambu town streets in a campaign to speak out to end the vice during the next 16 days
By Felix Njenga
Cultural beliefs have contributed to sexual and gender-based violence within the country as it has placed one gender to be superior to the other.
This is according to Kiambu sub county Deputy County Commander Titus Macharia speaking during the flaging off of a walk meant to mark the beginning of 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kiambu town saying that some of the views and cultural practices has set the stage to where the vice is.
“Just because someone has paid dowry does not mean you own that person to an extent of violating their rights. Your wife is not a property. We must look into this under the bill of rights so as to know that all of us have equal rights,” Macharia said.
He said in the recent past there were many reported cases of men being cut off their private parts which have now gone down but still being reported.
“Sexual and gender-based violence is not only for the women only, men are also victims and are beaten,” he said.
He said that those men whose rights are being violated should not feel shy but report to the police urging the police to help out the men as their rights with women are equal.
“Men should not feel shy to report to the police, you will not be laughed at but police understand and know rights of women and men are equal and they will be helped out,” he said.
He added that men who have separated with their wives and have children together are obliged by the children Act to take care of their children.
“The children act states that parental responsibility is 50:50 of both parents even if you are not staying together,” he said.
He said that there is a challenge of the women who sire kids but deny the men access to the child which leads to fighting and in many leading to deaths.
He said that there is no single institution both government and community is capable of fighting the vice alone but through collaboration the fight against SGBV can be won.
Venazio Olympia Director State department for Gender and Affirmative Action Kiambu county said that there is high rise of suicide in young men because of lack of sharing out their problems which involves of their rights being violate.
“Men do not talk and we need to encourage them to air out their mind to someone and also encourage the fathers to hold their sons’ hands and a neighbours son’s hands and be talking to them so as to protect them,” she said.
She said that the survivors of SGBV need legal aid, psychological counselling, medical care in order to heal and rebuild their lives.
She said that social services should ensure that those who inflict violence are held accountable and the social services systems protect the most vulnerable.
“Everyday should be a step to end SGBV and should not stop. Every voice raised must contribute to the powerful movement for justice and equality.
Evelyn Onunga from the office of the director public prosecution said that in order to collect evidence that will bring perpetrators of SGBV one should ensure that they identify the small things in the scene of crime such that when the matter is coming up in court the evidence is there.
“Whenever you go to a scene of crime the victim has evidence, the scene there is evidence and even the object there is evidence. Let us be keen to collect our evidence by looking around,” she said.
Pacifica Ongancha nominated member of the assembly said that despite the men being violated it is not in the same measure that women have been violated recently and everyone should unite to end SGBV.
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