This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
On Wednesday, a group of women from Sinai village in Mautuma location, Lugari Sub County, took to the streets to protest against a man accused of physically abusing his wife.
Carrying twigs and singing songs, the women, led by human rights activist Alice Ombima, stormed Geoffrey Atundo's compound, accusing him of battering his wife, Jesca Atundo.
The women's demonstration was sparked by a Tuesday morning incident where Atundo burned his wife's clothes following a squabble.
According to the women, they had been silently observing Atundo's abuse of his wife, who he had married a second time, and could no longer stand by and watch.
As the women threatened to discipline Atundo, church leaders, elders, and local administrators intervened, calming the situation.
During a meeting held in the couple's compound, it was revealed that Atundo had abandoned his family and failed to provide for their basic needs.
He was accused of spending most of his time with his second wife, Elizabeth Atundo, and turning violent whenever he visited his first wife.
Atundo eventually admitted his mistake, reconciled with his wife, and promised to change his behavior.
As a form of punishment, he was fined a sheep to be slaughtered according to local customs.
The incident occurred during the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence in the country, a period that has seen a surge in reports of GBV in Kakamega County.
