Machakos Women Representative Susan Musyoka has asked women in the county to report cases of assault perpetuated against them.
Addressing women groups at Mutituni market on Monday, Musyoka said that most victims of assault do not report such cases to authorities.
He said that statistics show that most women in Machakos experience gender-based violence, but suffer in silence.
“Women should not fear to report cases where they are sexually assaulted or their rights infringed upon by sex predators,” she said.
The women leader said that the constitution guarantees the same rights and freedoms as their male counterparts, further urging MPs and Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) to pass laws that will promote the wellbeing of women.
She said that through legislation and proper policies, women’s lives will be empowered.
The women representative further called on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to deal firmly and prosecute perpetrators of gender violence.
She said that the DPP has been give prosecutorial powers and that the same should be used to condemn gender violence, urging him to fast-track prosecution of suspects caught in the recent cases where women were allegedly stripped in Nairobi County.
She said that stripping is a criminal act, and that perpetrators should not be given opportunity to walk free.