Political Good will needed in the fight against gender based violence in Kenya

Gender based violence is a global phenomenon. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. In Kenya 45% of women between the ages of 15 to 49 years have experienced either physical or sexual violence with women and girls accounting for 90% of the gender based violence cases reported. Violence particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women are major public health problems and violations of women's rights in Kenya.

Nyanza region is among the regions in Kenya that reports higher levels of physical and sexual violence committed by a spouse or partner every day. According to a representative at the Gender Violence Recovery Center at Jaramogi Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu County, the hospital receives more than 10 cases of defilement of girls below the age 18 years on a daily basis though many cases still go unreported for diverse reasons. The most notorious perpetrators of gender based violence in Kisumu were reported to be boda boda riders and male family members: step fathers, uncles and cousins. Moreover violence against school going girls reportedly escalates during the school holiday months of April, August and December.