Women from Athi River have been advised to work hard so as to be self-reliant to avoid life frustrations that render them vulnerable to exploitation by men.
Speaking to a group of women in Athi River town, Teresia Akala, a Nairobi-based counsellor and life coach said most women get to "wrong" men’s traps mostly due to financial pressures.
Akala disclosed that larger percentages of women in rural and developing towns across the country face economic hardships hence undergo various challenges in their lives.
She said that in spite of that, most women cannot share their life experiences due to embarrassments and stigmatisation in the society.
The counsellor said that was very dangerous since such women got battered by men including their husbands, but were not able to speak out for ignorance and despair.
She therefore called on women in the region to come up and start small businesses to sustain themselves and their families to avert the situation.
Akala advised those who did not have capital for starting the business to form groups and approach public funds custodians such as Uwezo, youth, women fund and Saccos for support.
She called on the community to advocate for women and girl child empowerment.
“If you empower a woman and girl child, you empower the entire society,” said Akala.