Kisii women representative Mary Sally Otara has said concerted efforts are needed in ending gender-based violence, FGM and child marriage.
Speaking on Monday at Etureti primary school during an anti-jigger campaign, Mrs Otara condemned the out-of-court settlement of cases related to girl-child and woman abuse. She asked all stakeholders to join hands in order to help the girl child and women in general.
“If we cannot stand united and preach against GBV, FGM and early marriages among our young girls, we will not achieve our goal of two-third gender rule that constitutionally provides women an opportunity of representation and participation in political and other spheres of work. My office is in forthright in the battle aiming at salvaging girls and women from crocodile jaws. The administration and judiciary should be in the forefront by arresting and giving a fair judgment such cases,” she said.
The women rep regretted that most cases get dropped due to lack of evidence. She appealed to witnesses to give accounts of evidence in order to enable the court give a fair judgement.
The National Lutheran Church of Kenya coordinator said women lacked proper information on reproductive health due to early marriage.
“I think marrying off a child to an old man is not about tradition, religion, culture but purely sexual superiority and power over. Girls who are married off young do not have access to reproductive health information, knowledge and services. Since many of them drop out of school as a result of child marriage, they do not have reliable sources of information on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the time they need it the most,” she added.
Mrs Otara said women face difficulties in accessing reproductive health services such as safe and legal abortion as well as contraceptives.
She said chauvinism among men render women and young girls helpless and deny them an opportunity to access to information noting that men are sometimes not willing to share information pertaining to family life.
“In Kisii County, the rate of gender-based violence is at 66 per cent which is quite alarming. It is due to such that my office in partnership with other NGOs is running a campaign against GBV,” the women rep revealed remarks that were supported by Bonchari sub-county chairlady for maendeleo ya wanawake, Alphonsina Kerubo.
Kerubo urged victims of gender based violence or any other act demeaning woman in the sub-county to report them to her office for an appropriate action to be taken against offenders.
“Report any cases of woman battering, child abuse and FGM so that we can take a step to offenders. We need to join hands, work together and save these girls and young women because they are the fulcrum of the society. Violence against women is a heinous human rights violation, global menace, a public health threat and a moral outrage. Lets unite to end it,” appealed Bonchari sub-county MYW chairlady.