In commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), UNFPA Kenya in partnership with Standard Group held a special edition of the live news show “Transform Kenya,” to highlight the importance of ending gender-based violence in all its forms. The show featured a panel of speakers drawn from the State Department for Gender, the Judiciary, UNFPA, and the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW).
Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence also shared their stories with the live audience present, detailing the devastating impact that the scrouge of GBV has had on their lives and families. 45-year-old Hamisa Ibrahim, told the story of how an attack by her husband left her with burns to 80% of her body, and emotional scars that will take a lifetime to heal. “I had been enduring physical violence in my marriage, and things got progressively worse until he set me on fire one evening,” she says. Hamisa is currently pursuing justice against her attacker after reporting the matter to the police.
Speaking during the live panel discussion, Ms. Jackline Njagi, who heads the sexual and gender-based violence unit at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said that 18,352 cases of gender-based violence had been reported in 2022, with 11,000 being cases of rape and defilement. “In 2020 and 2021, we were able to achieve a conviction rate of 76% for sexual and gender-based violence cases. We are working to ensure that even more survivors have access to justice through our court system,” she said.
Ms. Njagi was joined on the panel by Josphat Ireri, Programme Director, Kenya-Finland Bilateral Programme on Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence, Centre for Rights Education and Awareness Executive Director Wangechi Wachira,and UNFPA Kenya Representative Anders Thomsen, and
Watch the live show recording below:
