This archive report was first published on 5 July 2021.
Published on July 5, 2021, experts from New Faces New Voices- Kenya (NFNV-Kenya) and Women Win have sounded the alarm on the need for a robust governance framework to combat the rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kenya.
The experts pointed out that the current governance infrastructure is woefully inadequate, leading to a lack of coordination among stakeholders from government and civil society organizations working on GBV cases.
Dr. Myrna Kalsi, NFNV Champion and Forensics Expert, emphasized that the healthcare ecosystem for GBV is deficient in forensic medical knowledge, causing a ripple effect in the current governance framework.
“The current governance framework for the management of GBV is weak. The current governance infrastructure is not appropriate for the generation of relevant data in GBV for the development of a continuum in assessing the gender impact in GBV cases,” said Dr. Kalsi.
Dr. Kizzie Shako, Founder of Vunja Kimya, added that proper mechanisms with policymakers are crucial in investigating GBV cases, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Demand for safe-houses was brought to the fore during the Covid-19 period, not only for girls but also for boys. Generally, we desperately need safe-houses for GBV victims everywhere across the country. This will also provide a platform for rehabilitation targeting perpetrators and offer assistance to victims pursuing justice,” reiterated Dr. Shako.
Other experts, including Dr. Deepak Parmar from Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, highlighted the need for a multi-sectorial approach to sensitizing healthcare professionals and police involvement to rapidly respond to GBV cases.
Collaborative Centre for Gender Development (CCGD) Sexual and Gender Based Violence Mitigation Programmes Coordinator Milka Kariuki emphasized the need for political will to bridge the disconnect gap among stakeholders for a seamless healthcare and legal response.
