NGO to set up safe house for survivors of gender based violence in Nyeri

The house will act as a recovery center, where victims will receive psychological support including counseling and legal assistance. [iStockphoto]

Girls exposed to Gender Based Violence (GBV) at Wiltermere in Nyeri County will benefit from a rescue center for victims.

According to Joseph Otieno from Philia Mission Kenya, a nongovernmental organization, the project is meant to assist girls exposed to sexual harassment at home.

Speaking during the anti-gender-based violence campaign stakeholders meeting in Nyeri, Otieno said that victims need help after visiting the hospital.

"The house will act as a recovery center, where victims will receive psychological support including counseling and legal assistance," he said.

Other services will include medical care with the center expected to partner with Nyeri County Referral Hospital in treating survivors.

"We want to set up a safe house at Witemere since it is one of the most populated slums in Nyeri County," said Otieno.

He said the level of poverty at Witemere informal settlement exposes children and teenagers to sexual violence with a majority of the cases going unreported.

Mr. Otieno said that the Philla Mission Kenya will partner with other stakeholders including the health department, education sector, and the judiciary in championing the rights of children.

He added that some of the challenges facing the gender-based violence campaign include financial difficulties. Others are inadequate resource allocation from the county government, and lack of adequate personnel, especially psychologists among others.

A reproductive and health 2022 survey done by Nyeri County indicates that from July to September 383 teenage pregnancies were reported.

Between October and December 2022, at least 337 teenage pregnancies were reported according to the survey with adolescents aged 15 to 19 years affected.

The report shows that Mukurwe-ini led with 103 teenage pregnancies of girls aged between 15 to 19 years during the period between July to September while 109 cases were reported between September and December.