A foundation has established a ‘Safe House’ in Kangema Sub-County, Murang’a, to offer shelter and support to victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV). Premier Peak Foundation has commissioned the house, a few metres from Kangema town, with a capacity to accommodate 30 women at a given time. The establishment of the haven house christened ‘Premier Hope Centre’ comes at a time when many cases of GBV have been reported in the county. The Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Juliah Chege, underscored the need to have the Centre, saying it will offer social, emotional, and psychological support to women who have been subjected to domestic and Gender Based Violence. ‘The idea to have this centre came to mind last year, after I realised cases of Gender Based Violence in this county have increased tremendously in the recent past,’ said Chege during the commissioning of the centre on Monday. In the realisation of the project, Chege divulged that her foundation has partnered with Women’s Hope under the leadership of Consolata Waithaka, who runs a GBV centre in Nairobi. According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey done by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) last year, 54 per cent of Murang’a women aged 49 years and below have experienced physical violence, against the national prevalence of 34 per cent. About 22 per cent of the women had experienced physical violence within the previous year, while 24 per cent had experienced sexual violence. About 58 per cent of women who have ever been married or had an intimate partner have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence committed by their most recent partner. With widespread Gender Based Violence, most victims are forced to continue living with their abusers because of financial dependence and stigma. ‘Victims of GBV admitted to the centre will be provided with psychological support to help them heal from the physical, sexual, or any other form of abuse. ‘They will also be trained and inducted into various income-generating activities to empower them economically and ensure they are able to move on with their lives once they leave the centre,’ explained Chege. She stated that the victims who will be hosted at the centre will get training on farming dry-land arrowroots that require minimal moisture and can be used to make flour and crisps. ‘The survivors will also be trained to make baskets, while others will be trained on housekeeping and caregiving, among other technical skills. We have realised that one of the main reasons victims of GBV stay in abusive relationships is a lack of financial independence.’ Remarked Chege. ‘We have already received requests from some victims, and we advise them to first get medical and police reports before they can be admitted to the centre,’ she continued. The Foundation, she noted, will embark on conducting sensitization forums at the grassroots to sensitise women against abuse and urge them to seek help, when in abusive situations. Waithaka, who was in attendance, claimed that cases of GBV have been normalised in homes, saying some abuses have pushed victims to depression and even suicide. She observed that some men are concerned that the opening of such refuge centres will destroy marriages as women will start fleeing abusive relationships. ‘We don’t go for survivors from their homes. They come to us and have to have several supporting documents,’ she said, adding that each survivor has a file. She appealed to both National and County governments, to consider partnering with private rescue centres to enable them to reach out to more victims. Waithaka divulged that all 40 centres operating in various parts of the country are private and that many struggle to stay afloat. Murang’a ACK Bishop Timothy Gichere, who graced and blessed the centre, lauded the two organisations for opening the facility that, he said, will provide hope to many survivors. Gichere, however, called on the church to play a preventive role by enhancing counselling for both women and men to foster stable homes. Virginia Wanjiru, a Kangema resident, said alcoholism is the main cause of conflicts in rural homes as couples struggle to keep up with the high cost of living. She said some men spend all their money on cheap alcoholic drinks instead of supporting their families, prompting fights between couples and their children. ‘Lack of basic necessities at home has contributed to conflicts between couples. Another problem is alcoholism, as some men spend what they earn on liquor, forgetting to provide for their families. We hope this centre will help those who have been held in abusive marriages,’ averred Wanjiru.
Source: Kenya News Agency