Female MPs launch campaign against GBV in Taita Taveta
Coast
By
Renson Mnyamwezi
| Aug 26, 2025
Thirteen female MPs on Tuesday intensified the war against gender based violence (GBV) in Taita Taveta County.
The MPs drawn from Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the opposition called for concerted efforts among relevant stakeholders to win the fight against GBV.
The leaders, including Taita Taveta Women Rep Lydia Haika and her Nyandarua counterpart, Faith Gitau, said GBV cases form the bulk of the crimes reported in the county.
“GBV cases are still prevalent in the region in spite of existing laws, policies, ongoing massive sensitisation forums and campaigns against the vice,” noted Haika.
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The legislators cited a recent case where a Grade Six pupil was defiled and murdered in Taita sub-county.
Kwale Woman Rep Fatuma Masito and her West Pokot counterpart Florence Jematiah called for severe penalties for men preying on minors.
“Why are grown-up men preying on minors?” Posed Masito.
Jematiah blamed drugs for the rising cases of GBV. “Drugs have also reduced the life expectancy rate among the youth,” she said.
County Commissioner Josephine Onunga noted that region is one of the leading counties in GBV incidences and has, in the last year, reported a total of 157 cases.
Onunga said GBV cases have been compounded by the widespread sale and consumption of illicit brew like Pasha and Mbangara, and drugs.
“The problem we are facing now is that locals are still reluctant to volunteer information. The public also does not report such cases to the law enforcement officers for action. We will take sensitisation and campaign forums to the grassroots level for effective dissemination of information,” she said.
Onunga, who is also the chairperson of the county security committee, regretted that most GBV cases have been dismissed by courts due to a lack of witnesses.
“Suspects have gone scot-free because witnesses are not willing to testify in court. Some of the suspects are also relatives of the victims, and there is that fear of retribution,” she said.
The administrator further raised concern over rising cases of defilement, sodomy, and incest, involving members of the same family.
Haika attributed the rising GBV cases to the consumption of illicit brews and drugs, breakdown in marriages, lack of parental care, and illiteracy levels, among others.
“This heinous act not only robbed a child of her innocence and life, but it also left the family, the school, and the entire community in shock and mourning,” she said.
“Worse still, it instills fear in parents and children alike and undermines the safety and dignity of girls in our community,” she added.
“We emphasise that this is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend; this innocent child’s life must not end in silence. The law enforcers should act swiftly and justly to not only bring the perpetrators to book but also protect other children from similar harm,” said a local woman leader, Dorin Ngeti.
Ngeti called for the establishment of a special county task force on child protection and GBVs, including school-based safety policies.