This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
December 9, 2019
Kenya's fight against gender-based violence is a long way from being won. Despite the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the number of victims continues to rise.
According to recent statistics, women and girls dominate reported cases of gender-based violence. The shocking thing is that most of the time, people see and delay to act or end up saying nothing to stop the perpetrators.
There are numerous examples of this inaction. A video clip emerged online showing a lady cashier being attacked mercilessly by her colleague in a supermarket. The incident started with a soft tap on the face, before turning into pulls and pushes, and eventually heavy slaps before anyone intervened.
Another video exposed a man who attacked a female security guard, beating her up and pushing the poor woman as no one tried to stop him.
Personal experiences also highlight the issue. I was once waiting for a bus near Survey bus stop, along Thika Road, when a tout grabbed me by my rear end, pretending to ask me where I was heading. When I protested, he responded with a derogatory comment, which was meant to shame me.
Incidents like these are not isolated. Perpetrators often use shame, provocation, and fear to silence victims. They dismiss victims by body shaming them or attacking their morality.
Experts have pointed out that victims often fail to report cases due to fear of being shamed or their claims being questioned on grounds of their choices, dressing, and morality.
It's time for individuals to take responsibility and act against perpetrators. We should stop burying our heads under the sand and seize from the practice of shaming victims when they get attacked.
