Ministers, Fida query study

By Peter Orengo

A minister has questioned the validity of findings that suggested increased abuse of husbands by their wives.

Speaking at a meeting forum on Monday, Gender and Children Minister Esther Mirugi dismissed the study report.

"Those were interesting statistics, but I don’t believe that women batter their husbands...men have never come out to complain that their wives beat them," Ms Mirugi said.

The survey by Maendeleo ya Wanaume, showed that 1.5 million men are abused by their spouses at home.

Separately, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo and Federation of Kenya Women Lawyers (Fida) want study findings audited.

"The report is surprising. I did not know that Kenyan women are aggressive. The report, however, requires an audit," he said after visiting Fida offices on Monday.

Fida Executive Director Patricia Nyaundi questioned why men claim violation when asked to perform house chores like feeding, bathing or taking care of their babies.

Mutula however said any form of violence whether meted to a man or a woman should cease.

Gender PS James Nyikal said: "We still don’t have data on cases of wives abusing their husbands. No one is yet to come up in the open to say his wife beats him. It is not as big as women problems," he said.