News
Gender-based violence on the rise since curfew impositioning
Fida received more child custody and maintenance cases compared to gender violence cases within the first three weeks of launching their hotline.
The gender-based violence hotline launched on April 15 had received 289 cases as of May 3 and is an intervention in response to the increasing number of gender violence cases in the country.
“The highest number of cases reported were gender-based violence cases at 81 and child custody and maintenance cases at 117,” Fida said.
Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa were the regions with the most reported cases.
“Other counties include Kakamega, Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Uasin Gishu, Taita Taveta, Vihiga, Bungoma, Lamu, Siaya, Kitui and Nakuru,” the press statement reads.
The nature of gender-based violence cases commonly reported is intimate partner violence, defilement and rape, especially in Nairobi and Kisumu.
Widow eviction and physical violence by in-laws are mostly prevalent in the Western region.
Taking into account the effects violence has on the survivors, the lawyers asked the government to tackle gender violence with the seriousness it deserves.
“For example, one case of gender-based violence by in-laws resulted in the woman miscarrying a four-month pregnancy. One of the rape cases resulted in the victim suffering a perforated uterus,” Fida said.
The organization attributes the increasing number of cases to the many hours spent with abusive partners and the lack of safe shelters for victims.
“Sadly we have also noted that while the government directives including the dusk-to-dawn curfew and the cessation of movement to and from some counties are important for the prevention and spread of Covid-19.”
“It has had the implication of taking away the options of women and girls in abusive relationships escaping to relatives upcountry for their safety,” the statement reads.
The lawyers called upon the government to establish safe spaces and shelters in all counties where women and girls can get temporary shelter as they escape their abusers.
“We also ask that they include women and girls at risk of abuse in the social protection measures that are targeted at the vulnerable members of our society during this difficult period,” Fida said.
Gender CS Margaret Kobia reported the national gender-based violence hotline registered 201 cases between February and March.
In three weeks, the numbers went up from 86 in February to 115 in March, the month President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a directive for the 7pm-to-5am curfew.
Kobia reported that the leading forms of violence are physical assault, psychological torture and defilement.
“Women in quarantine face increased risks of intimate partner violence. Girls staying home from school are vulnerable to forms of abuse such as defilement and female genital mutilation,” the CS said.
“The economic dependence and marginalization of women make them more vulnerable, especially amid a pandemic.”
According to Counting Dead Women Kenya database, 21 women were killed through acts of femicide between January and April 20.
Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip and Saumu Mbuvi, daughter of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, have announced their separation following wrangles and disagreement.
The reports were fuelled by photos and videos of Senator Loitiptip hanging out with a female friend.
Saumu, on Instagram, announced that the two have separated, claiming that she has undergone domestic violence under Loitiptip.
“These are the things he did to me,” wrote Saumu, in one of her photos showing a swollen face and bruised lips.
“He almost killed me. I will forever fight for women to stand for their rights. Never allow a man to be violent to you.”
She also claimed that the senator had neglected their child, leaving Saumu as the primary caregiver.
Loitiptip told Kenyans.co.ke that Saumu shared her father’s traits and was suffering from bipolar disorder, threatening to expose her past to prove his claim.
The two have been dating for months and at one point planned to get married. However, Sonko’s daughter clarified that the two had split before officiating their union.
“Wedding date confirmed,” she captioned a picture of herself and the senator in June 2020.
Her previous relationship with businessman cum politician Ben Gatu also ended after she accused him of being violent.
The US government has revealed that there are significant cases of Covid-19 in Tanzania.
This is just a week after it advised its citizens against travelling to the East African country.
“The US Embassy is aware of a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases since January 2021,” the Embassy said.
In a Health alert, the US said the practice of Covid-19 mitigation and prevention measures remains limited.
The Tanzanian government has not released aggregate numbers on Covid-19 cases or deaths since April 2020.
“Healthcare facilities in Tanzania can become quickly overwhelmed in a healthcare crisis. Limited hospital capacity throughout Tanzania could result in life-threatening delays for emergency medical care,” US said.
The Department of State’s travel advisory level for Tanzania is Level 3.
The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that travellers should avoid all travel to Tanzania.
The Embassy continues to recommend that all individuals take caution in day-to-day activities.
President John Magufuli assured the 58 million inhabitants that they need not worry about observing Covid-19 preventative measures.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday made a surprising stop to lecture Nairobi residents after finishing his engagement at the National Cargo Deconsolidation Centre (NCDC-Nairobi).
The Head of State said he was angry at Nairobians for being against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill stating that the report has given Nairobi more constituencies.
“If we have a BBI that says the people of Nairobi will have more constituencies and if it’s bursaries a child in Mathare who today receives Ksh500, how will that child study up to university level,” President Kenyatta said.
“But there is another child who gets Ksh100,000 in Busury per year is that right?… BBI is not for helping Raila or Uhuru it is for you,” he continued.
Uhuru went on to disclose that he has no plans to rule after his term is over and his interest is in finishing the job that Kenyans elected him to do.
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