Nationally, 34% of women aged 15-49 have ever experienced physical violence since age 15 while 13% of women in the same age bracket have ever experienced sexual violence. The prevalence of physical and sexual violence amongst women aged 15-49 in Kilifi County is 20% and 12%[1] respectively.
On the 7th of December 2024, KELIN joined the Community in Kilifi County in marking the 2024 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) themed: “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”. Kilifi County local administration officials, health care providers and the Intersex Rights Initiative Coast (IRIC), held a dialogue with over 100 community members on root causes and prevalence of GBV, prevention and response to GBV for all genders including intersex persons within Kilifi County.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Nelly Chivatsi, IRIC’s Executive Director highlighted the need for conversations on GBV to include intersex persons who are legally recognized in Kenya. Ms. Nelly urged the community to have an open-minded approach to the discussions and to be ambassadors of the lessons they would learn.
Three representatives from Mtwapa Health Centre, Ms. Alpina Wegoka, M. Grace Njeri and Mr. Sebastian Mwazige also shared their experiences addressing GBV. They highlighted how often alleged perpetrators are people known to victims or survivors and end up being shielded by families who opt for mediation and do not cooperate with law enforcement for fear of being stigmatized or because the alleged perpetrator is a breadwinner. They emphasized that teenage pregnancy is defilement and imparted knowledge on the health risks involved for an adolescent to carry a baby to terms which often warrants provision of safe and legal abortion.
Ms. Amina Ningala, a high school teacher, called on parents to take responsibility for their children as opposed to survivor shaming, especially for girls who are still developing. Mr. Jeremiah Mwarome, Chief, Mtwapa location emphasized on the importance of community dialogues in prevention and response to human rights abuse and encouraged the community to feel free to report abuses to his office and to be ambassadors of the knowledge shared with them.
Cognizant of the pivotal role that communities play in prevention and response to GBV, KELIN is steadfast in ensuring communities and community structures are empowered to demand and promote social justice for health and to hold governments accountable to
deliver on the right to health.
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For more information please contact, Elsie Milimu,
Program Officer- SRHR, Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS(KELIN), E
[1] 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey
