Today, the Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG) participated in the 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗚𝗕𝗩) 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 public participation forum held at the 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿𝘂.
The forum is part of a nationwide initiative convened by the Government of Kenya to gather citizen input across all 47 counties. The Technical Working Group was appointed via Gazette Notice No. 109 of January 2025, with a mandate to assess, review, and recommend legal, policy, and institutional reforms to effectively address GBV and Femicide.
During the Nakuru forum, CEDGG formally presented its memorandum to the Technical Working Group, highlighting community-based perspectives and urgent reforms necessary to end GBV and protect vulnerable populations.
During the meeting, the public took turns to raise their issues and petitions to the task force representatives with the key concerns being;
𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺:Concerns were raised about the inadequate capacity of law enforcement officers to investigate GBV and Femicide cases. Additionally, prolonged delays in the court system discourage survivors from pursuing justice.
𝗜𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼-𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: Survivors and their families often lack access to trauma-informed mental health care. Public health facilities have an insufficient number of trained counselors, while private services remain unaffordable for many.
𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: A climate of mistrust and fear of stigma continues to deter victims from reporting abuse to the police, limiting access to timely protection and justice.
𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆-𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗕𝗩 (𝗧𝗙-𝗚𝗕𝗩): There is a rising trend in online forms of GBV, including cyberstalking, digital harassment, and online defamation, especially targeting women and girls.
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱: Participants noted that men also experience GBV, but their cases often receive little attention. The forum emphasized the need for inclusive approaches that recognize and support male survivors.
𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗚𝗠: A disturbing shift was reported in how Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is being practiced. Unlike traditional patterns targeting young girls, current cases indicate older women are increasingly subjected to the act, demanding urgent intervention.
Representatives from the 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 assured participants that all submissions, will be considered in shaping national reforms. The Nakuru County Government – Official , through its representative, reiterated its commitment to making Nakuru a GBV-free zone. The county pledged to put in place robust strategies to prevent gender-based violence and stand in solidarity with survivors.
Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance. remains committed to advocating for survivor-centered policies, accountability, and justice in the fight against GBV and Femicide. We thank the Government for creating space for public participation and urge swift action to implement the recommendations presented.
