Culture of silence shields abusers, fuels Kenya’s GBV surge
Barasa pointed to a deeply entrenched culture of silence and stigma that protects perpetrators while isolating victims.
Kenya’s ongoing fight against gender-based violence (GBV) has hit a critical point as a government task force revealed on Wednesday that most violent acts against women and children occur within their own homes.
At a public forum in Kibra, Nairobi, Nancy Barasa, Chairperson of the Technical Working Group on GBV, exposed shocking rates of femicide, child defilement, incest, and sodomy, often committed by close relatives.
"We have uncovered what we didn’t anticipate," Barasa said, describing the findings from public hearings across the country, which concluded in Nairobi. The group’s mandate, extended in April, tasked it with investigating the root causes of GBV and recommending solutions.
Barasa pointed to a deeply entrenched culture of silence and stigma that protects perpetrators while isolating victims.
“There’s a culture of silence around GBV. Reporting makes victims exiles, not just in the community, but within their own families,” she said. This environment allows abuse to go on unchecked, with devastating consequences.
She disclosed that a staggering 60 percent of femicides reported occur within domestic settings, highlighting the dangers women face in their own homes.
The task force also criticized police for their lack of urgency and prolonged court cases.
"The police don’t take GBV cases seriously. Cases take years in court," Barasa said, underscoring the justice system’s failure to protect victims.
In a disturbing trend, Barasa revealed that some medical practitioners have begun performing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), especially in counties where traditional cutters are being phased out.
"This is shocking. We’re now seeing trained doctors performing FGM on young girls," she stated, calling attention to the ongoing human rights violations in Kisii, Nyamira, and Migori.
The group also highlighted how inadequate funding of justice and protection institutions limits efforts to end GBV.
The task force is expected to submit its recommendations to President William Ruto by June 8, 2025, in hopes of sparking reforms.
