Mombasa, KENYA: The county government of Mombasa under the Department of Gender, Sports and Cultural Affairs has pledged to empower women as a way of fighting gender-based violence.
Speaking in a function marking 16 days of activism, county executive for Gender, Sports and Cultural affairs Kevin Munywoki Kyalo, said the county is committed to empowering women economically and they will make sure they increase this financial year’s women empowerment budget from last year’s Sh.120 million to Sh 200 million.
“The issue of GBV, to tackle this issue is embedded on how we are going to ensure there is economic empowering of the women, the youth and the disabled” said Kyalo.
He added that by empowering women, it is going to greatly help countering GBV, because such cases begins with not being able to provide for the family.
He added that they are currently working on creating a rescue center to help women and children that experience Gender Based Violence.
Also present at the meeting was Dr. Godfrey Nyongesa Nato the county head of the Environment, Waste Management and Energy docket.
Nato promised to deal with the Mwakirunge dumpsite, which is reported to be one of the main area spots where gender-based violence like rape, defilement takes place.
“Some of the factors mentioned to be contributing to GBV cases in Mwakirunge include the dumpsite in the area, water shortage, education and health services, and as the head of Environment I promise to make sure as a county government, we will work very closely with CBOs in the area in making sure we completely end GBV.
In the meeting, it was also established that Mwakirunge is one of the areas in Mombasa reporting many cases of GBV.
Fatna Faraj Sauti ya Wanawake Umbrella chairperson, said currently they are handling around five cases of GBV including rape.
Each year between November 25 and December 10, the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is commemorated globally.
It is an annual reminder of the universal nature of gender-based violence and the need for solidarity to prevent and respond to it.
The UN’s theme this year is ‘Leave no one behind: End violence against women and girls’.
