It has been revealed that kilifi County is leading in the entire country with cases of Gender Base Violence (GBV) being on the raise among girls and women in the society, which has resulted in the increase of Fistula cases also rising up.
According to the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the ministry of Gender Affairs, Youth and Public Services Ms Rachael Shebeh said that the increase of fistula cases in the county was hugely brought by early marriages among underage girls of mostly 12 years.
Speaking in Malindi while celebrating the world fistula Day and also while issuing out cheque to over 65 women and youth groups, Shebesh said that the number of fistula cases will rise if measures will not be taken to curb the menace.
“I have today toured the Malindi General Hospital, and I was shocked to be told that this county leads in such cases, our young girls who should be in class are being operated in different theaters due to early pregnancies,” she said.
She added that when women and young girls are exposed to violence cases in the society and make a record breaking of reporting 17 cases daily, something could have gone wrong somewhere.
“It does not make sense for me to come here give out cheques yet there is a silent cry that we are not addressing, this record is really horrifying, and as the ministry its either leaders from Kilifi county to come up with a solution to end the norm or the national government institute the law, “she added.
Boda boda operators have been alleged to be the main perpetrators most of them being accused of ditching little amount of money to young girls in exchange of sexual intercourse.
However Shebesh cautioned all those behind the increase of the GBV cases saying that if leaders will not stand on toes to eradicating the problem she would initiate a crackdown campaign where she said she will be rescuing young girls who have been married by older men in the society.
“Be warned am ready to fight for our women and girls, we shall hold a crackdown and if any man is caught up with a young girl of less than 18 years being your wife, you will surely rote in jail,” she said.
Her sentiments we echoed by Kilifi County Women Rep Getrude Mbeyu who accompanied the CAS said that she is closely working with security apparatus in the county to make sure all young children are not allowed to attend night parties and weddings.
During the meeting more than 20 million shilling was given out to different women and youth groups, where 9.2M was from affirmative Fund, Ksh.7.76M for Uwezo Fund and Ksh.4.5M for Women Enterprise Fund were issued to benefit the groups in order to undertake various development projects.