Makueni County hires team to curb gender abuse

The county government of Makueni has recruited over 1,000 anti-Gender Based Violence (GBV) champions across all the sub-counties in the fight against the vice.

The team was unveiled at a summit on Friday that declared its resolved to help in the fight.

At the summit were members from the Judiciary, civil society, county government, police officers, chiefs, clergy, survivors and the anti-GBV champions to discuss a roadmap aimed at ending the scourge.

High Court Judge Teresia Matheka said proper mechanisms and practical solutions need to be put in place to end GBV.

The judge, who is also a member of National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) special task force on children matters noted with concern that many suspects go unpunished because victims people can’t express themselves in courts and relatives shy away from speaking out.

“It is the role of these champions to go and speak to the people in the villages and be a voice for that voiceless person suffering in silence. When a person is abused they are affected psychologically, physically and economically, and they need support,” she said.

She hailed the county for leading the way and building a shelter for victims of violence.

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau who the summit, stressed the importance of holding such a forum at a moment the country still faces hurdles in addressing the matter.

“We want to end injustices melted on children, women and men by 2025 and make Makueni a gender-based violence free county, ” said Mwau.