The Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA), in collaboration with human rights organizations, has launched a bold awareness and empowerment campaign in Mandera County aimed at eliminating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls.

Dubbed "Komesha Dhulma", the initiative is spearheaded by nominated Senator Mariam Sheikh Omar (Mandera County) and seeks to amplify awareness and community engagement on women’s empowerment.

Senator Mariam decried the rising GBV cases in the region, noting that over 400 incidents were reported in the past year alone.

“The silence around GBV must end. Women must rise and speak out. This is not just a women’s issue—it is a societal crisis that demands urgent action,” she said.

KEWOSA, she affirmed, will continue advocating for stronger legislation and enhanced protections for women and girls.

Mandera East Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Cheboton echoed her sentiments, urging residents to make use of established reporting structures, such as gender desks at all police stations across the county.

Women leaders at the event condemned the misuse of the traditional Maslaha system to cover up GBV cases, insisting that culture must not be weaponized to excuse injustice.

They called on communities to pursue formal legal processes and hold perpetrators accountable.

Religious leaders were also cautioned against downplaying GBV, with some speakers warning of potential spiritual consequences for enabling abuse.

Despite the challenges, the county has made minor strides in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with the practice declining by 0.2 percent over the past two years.

The Komesha Dhulma campaign is expected to roll out similar engagements in other high-risk counties in the coming months