This archive report was first published on 3 November 2021.
On November 3, 2021, the Kenya and Finland governments announced a Sh700 million gender-based violence (GBV) grant, with Bungoma County among the three counties selected to benefit from the pilot programme.
The three-year programme aims to enhance prevention and response to gender-based violence, with the selection of the three counties based on poverty levels, marginalisation, cultural practices, and the desire for balanced regional coverage.
Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati expressed his administration's commitment to supporting the inter-governmental framework of gender, international partners, and civil organizations to save the vulnerable in society.
“We commit to ending gender-based violence by putting in place workable policies and measures to save our young girls, women, and elderly,” he said.
According to the National Crime Centre, gender-based violence cases increased to 2,032 between January and June 2021, a 92 per cent increase from 1,057 cases reported in the entire year of 2019.
Bungoma chief officer for Gender Saphia Awil termed the pilot programme a step in the right direction, stating, “We are working and coordinating with all technical groups to ensure that we reduce GBV cases. We target strategic actors, including schools and police.”
Awil has been working closely with other arms of the county government in formulating GBV policies and establishing centres for survivors.
Elsewhere, the Kakamega county government has earmarked Sh25 million in the 2022/2023 budget for dealing with GBV cases, with Governor Wycliffe Oparanya directing health workers to establish GBV desks in all level four hospitals to address and manage the rampant cases.
