Women Rights Groups Heighten War Against SGBV in Kenya
Collaboration of Women in Development (CWID) executive director Betty Sharon addressing the Media. (Photo By Mwakwaya Raymond)
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Non governmental organizations have demanded for the implementation of key policies to prevent and suppress sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) vice among women and children in the coastal region.
Speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Collaboration of Women in Development (CWID) executive director Betty Sharon regretted that the SGBV vice was still a threat to women and children despite concerted efforts by different agencies to prevent it.
“As much as we are doing a lot with the community on prevention of SGBV, access to climate justice and women economic empowerment, a lot of negativity is still happening including defilement of girls and violation of women human rights,” she noted.
The official, therefore, asks the government to ensure full implementation of the policies which are said to be the biggest challenge in ensuring a zero SGBV community.
Kenya has made strides in making some of the key anti-SGBV policies, but the implementation aspect is wanting.
“We have some of the best policies in the country and they are not being implemented, and this is the biggest problem, implementing the policy is supposed to be a collaborative effort from all players.”
Defilement, rape, and harassment are just a few among many forms of violence often infringing the rights of most survivors, but the organizations now calls for a collective effort by prosecution, judicial authority, prosecution and community players to end the vice.
“When policies are ignored, which has been the case in Kenya, then we are not going to win the war, and this is being promoted by corruption in the country.”
The meeting bringing together women led organizations and stakeholders was also attended by Urgent Action Fund, one of the donors of key community empowerment programs in the coastal region targeting to end SGBV in the country.
On her part, Africa Muslim Women Action Network executive director Ulfat Hussein Masibo, reiterates the need of empowering women economically to make them self-dependent.
The activist notes that cultural and religious barriers are to blame for the economic injustices thus calls for continued advocacy campaigns targeting to reach more women.
“Women are always left out on matters of economic balance and empowerment,we have cultural and religious barriers that hinder achieving economic injustice and we want to ensure there are empowerment programs to ensure equal access to economic justice,” she said.
As the world marked World Menstrual Day, the activist called on the government to ensure free distribution of sanitary towels in schools in the quest to ensure girls enjoyed their rights to good health.
“The bodily autonomy of the girl belongs to the girl. The government should ensure to provide free tampons and sanitary towels the same way as condoms are free for men,” she said and asked parents to openly discuss challenges affecting their girl-children.
On his part, Issa Mowgi who works with women enterprise fund and also a representative office of the Woman representative says the government is embarking on ensuring sustained empowerment of girl children.
“The office of women rep is giving a second chance to young mothers to access education. This is commendable,again the office of women enterprise fund is helping women to economically empower themselves to make them self dependent,” he said.
The official noted that the (SGBV) vice in Mombasa County was being handled through safe rehabilitation centers in region where survivors would get a safe home.
“There were challenges and the Mwakirunge safe space will soon be operational. We are calling on like minded people to join hands to ensure we achieve our intended mission,” he added.
