Gender activists in Kisumu have condemned continued hostility towards women and children in the country.
The anti-Gender Based Violence (GBV) groups joined the world in observing the International Day of Peace with a call to end the violence whenever there is a dispute.
More than 400 women, youths and men reiterated the need for peace supported by Peace Initiative Kenya of the International Rescue Committee.
They made stopovers at Nyando Law Courts, Nyando Police Station and Ahero Town where they met with bodaboda operator leaders.
Speaking during the event in Ahero town on Monday, the women leaders said though men are equally vulnerable, women are the most affected, especially in Nyanza region.
Nyabende Support Programmes Coordinator Caren Omanga said gender violence has serious social, psychological and economic consequences causing trauma to women, families and communities.
She said GBV is getting worse despite the many legal and policy frameworks put in place to deal with perpetrators.
Omanga called on all Kenyans to ensure peace in and outside the home which is significant in reducing GBV against women and children.
The activists asked citizens to embrace this year’s International Day of Peace theme ‘Partnerships for Peace-Dignity for all’.
Omanga said the theme aims at highlighting the need of society to work together to strive for peace to achieve economic and development growth. She called on national and county governments to provide adequate budgetary allocations to Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) initiatives. She further asked the Judiciary to effectively enforce penalties against gender based violence.
Amina Akelo, an activist said lack of funds is frustrating the fight against the GBV in Kisumu County.
“Counties should ensure that they start gender units within their structures to deal with gender based issues affecting people on each county,” she said.
Akelo also called for separate special spaces for survivors of GBV with facilities to allow for the confidential collection of testimonies and evidence within all police stations, and specialised staff to support survivors.
Nyando Senior principal magistrate Julius Ng’arng’ar called for partnership to prevent conflicts both at home and in community to ensure there is sustainable peace.
“We want public to advocate for peace and avoid all triggers of conflict or violence. Put in place structures that respond to the needs of gender-based violence cases caused by conflicts,” he said.
Nyando deputy police boss Elizabeth Too urged citizens to work closely with security agents to end the vice.