Kenya Female lawmakers are set to launch a nation wide grass roots campaign to combat the rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide in Kenya.
Dubbed “Komesha Dhuluma”, the initiative has been spearheaded by the H.E President William Ruto through an allocation of Kshs. 100 million in coordination with the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action.
The campaign will involve 102 Members of Parliament, including 47 Woman Representatives, 28 constituency MPs, 6 nominated National Assembly Members, 3 elected Senators, and 18 nominated Senators.
Each MP will lead community sensitization barazas and community outreach programmes unique to their constituencies to address the root cause of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide that will target men and women.
Speaking during a consultative meeting ahead of the launch, Hon. Leah Sankaire, Chairperson of Kewopa Kenya , emphasized the importance of addressing GBV at its roots. “This campaign is for our people at the grassroots level. Previous national campaigns have raised awareness, but we must now bring the message closer to the community,” she stated.
The initiative will also bring together key stakeholders, including Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), the Community Advocacy and Awareness (CRAWN) Trust, and the National Gender and Equality Commission.
The Presidential Advisor on Women’s Rights in her remarks delivered by a representative, called for a diverse and inclusive grass roots campaign.
“Counties with high rates of GBV may require more emergency response resources, while others might need programs focusing on education, prevention, and community engagement,” the message read.
In her message, Presidential Advisor further stressed the importance of grounding the campaign in local realities to ensure no region is left behind.
The initiative comes amid an alarming surge in femicide cases in 2024, with civil society organizations calling for femicide to be declared a national disaster. High-profile cases, including the brutal killings of three family members in Eastleigh and journalist Lillian Achieng’ Aluko that have led to public outcry.
Hon. Lilian Gogo called for the involvement of law enforcement and judicial systems in addressing GBV. “We must work closely with the Inspector General of Police and the Judiciary to ensure perpetrators are held accountable,” she urged.
On her part, Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action, Ms. Anne Wang’ombe, stressed the importance of engaging men and boys in the campaign. “Gender-based violence is a societal issue. We need our men and boys to stand up and join us,” she said.
The “Komesha Dhuluma” campaign, set to run for two and a half months, will culminate in the 2025 International Women’s Day in March in Parliament Buildings.
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