SIXTEEN DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN KAKAMEGA COMMENCE

Kakamega County First Lady H.E Prof. Janet Kassily Barasa on Friday launched the annual 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Kakamega County at an event that was preceded with the County signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Touch A Life Organisation to offer Pro-bono legal services for vulnerable survivors of SGBV in the devolved unit.

The event themed “UNITE! Activism to end violence against Women and Girls,” saw the First Lady raise concerns about the alarming high rates of teenage pregnancies in the County and called on all stakeholders to unite against GBV.

“The fight against this scourge requires combined efforts from all sectors to end it; we must all be willing and ready to speak in one voice on the need to eliminate the triple threat of Gender Based Violence, Teenage Pregnancies and HIV/AIDS from our society,” Prof. Barasa stated and pledged to reintegrate the affected girls back to school to complete their education.

Prof. Barasa also urged men who are affected not to suffer in silence as she called for peace and harmony in families. Parents, she advised, should be responsible and close to their children in order to raise the juveniles well.

She thanked all stakeholders among them the National and County Governments and Civil Rights Organisations for the efforts directed towards ending societal vices.

The First Lady was accompanied by her predecessor Mama Priscilla Oparanya who cautioned “loose” men to stop GBV vices lest they shift their homes to jail.

Health County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Madam Rachel Okumu appreciated health workers especially the Community Health Volunteers for being at the forefront in reporting GBV cases to the authorities.