Kakamega County signs agreement to tackle GBV, Teen Pregnancy

Kakamega County government has signed an agreement with the French government through the Reproductive Health Network of Kenya (RHNK) to fight Gender-Based Violence and teenage pregnancy.

The five-year programme is occasioned by the rising number of Sexual-Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and it is aimed at strengthening, preventing, and responding to Gender related Violence after it was revealed that 50 per cent of women and teenagers in Kakamega County are experiencing gender-based violence.

Speaking during the signing of the MoU, Kakamega Health CECM Dr Livingstone Imbayi said the agreement is long overdue, considering the withdrawal of USA government support on various health programs in the county, which has greatly affected the county's effort to combat the menace and improve reproductive health.

"As a county we were receiving a total of Sh400 million annually from the USA government to support various health programs such as HIV/AIDS, GBV, and Reproductive Health, and after the withdrawal of the funds, we have been hit so hard," said Imbayi.

Imbayi, however, warned perpetrators preying on teenage girls, especially the school-going children, stating that the county has an act that shall enable it to enforce the law on the offenders.

"We are partnering with school heads across the county in a bid to win against this fight. We have The Kakamega County Sexual and Gender Based Violence Control and Management Act 2023 which provide a framework for the promotion of public awareness on causes, impact and consequences of SGBV and this is a warning to the culprits preying on our girls that such vices have no room in our county becauase they willface the law," said Imbayi.

The act commits the county government to ensure progressive access to healthcare services of the highest attainable standard of health to SGBV victims.

Chief Officer for Public Health Rose Muhanda said the county is on the right track in reducing the high cases of gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies, and the agreement will incorporate various stakeholders in projects to combat the menace, especially fast-tracking the gender and development policy in the assembly.

Muhanda said that the MoU seeks to address gender-related challenges, particularly focusing on unpaid care work, GBV, and access to gender-responsive financial services for young women.

"We have constructed rescue and rehabilitation centres that guarantee the safety of our victims, and through concerted efforts, we have managed to reduce the high cases of GBV and teenage pregnancy," said Muhanda.

Reproductive Health Network of Kenya, Executive Director Nelly Manyasia, said the organisation is offering legal services by providing four lawyers to represent GBV victims for free.

"RHNK will deploy four pro bono lawyers to support GBV victims in navigating the legal system. We understand the county is also offering free legal services to the victims, but we understand that the vast nature of Kakamega and its population is posing challenges due to high cases of GBV, and that is why we are adding four more lawyers," said Manyasia.

The organisation will also train healthcare providers to improve GBV response mechanisms within health facilities across the country, and it will focus on areas such as reducing teenage pregnancies, increasing STI awareness and treatment, and providing legal aid.

"Our focus is on youths because we have discovered that they are the most affected and the numbers are high and they lack information on how to deal with these vices when affected, and that is why our focus is to bring youth on the forefront in the fight against GBV and teenage pregnancy," said Manyasia.