This archive report was first published on 3 December 2019.
Published on December 3, 2019, a Bill before the Nairobi County Assembly proposes the establishment of safe houses or shelters for victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The shelters will be set up by the county government and will provide a temporary stay for SGBV victims, along with healthcare and counseling services.
According to the Bill, each ward will have at least one safe house, ensuring that victims have access to an empowering environment and programs tailored to their individual needs. The county government will also ensure a sustained budget for the shelter program through its annual budgetary allocations.
The Nairobi City County Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Management and Control Bill, 2019, aims to provide measures for awareness, prevention, and response to SGBV. The Bill also proposes the establishment of a County Forensic Laboratory for the analysis of samples from SGBV victims, ensuring that they can access healthcare without unnecessary impediments.
Furthermore, the county government will establish referral linkages between the shelters, police, health services, psychosocial support, and legal aid to ensure justice for victims. The Bill also aims to prohibit harmful cultural and traditional practices, outlawing gender discrimination in all its forms and providing witness protection.
A report by the Crime Research Centre in Kenya indicates that bodily harm, verbal abuse, sexual violence, psychological harm, economic deprivation, human trafficking, and restricted association and movement of women are the most common forms of gender-based violence. The 2018 study highlights that Nairobi County recorded the highest percentage of SGBV cases, with battering being the most prevalent, followed by rape.
