Meru: Alarm as 376 women, 27 men raped in two months

As the campaign for 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence draws to a close, stakeholders have raised concern over the high number of gender based violence cases in Meru County.

Meru County gender chief officer Monica Kagwima said 376 women and 27 men have been raped in the last two months across the county, with cases of physical and emotional violence increasing in the same period.

The cases are especially high in Igembe North and Imenti South regions, according to Kagwima who decried the high number of rape incidents.

She noted that 3,000 cases of domestic violence, targeting both men and women, have also been reported in the county in the period under review, with 6,000 women reported to have experienced physical and emotional violence in the last two months. 

"We are making efforts to ensure that we bring down these numbers because it is quite alarming considering that the statistics are from the past two months," she said.

Elsewhere in Samburu, local administrators have warned those engaging in female genital mutilation of legal consequences if they are caught.

Assistant Chief Simon Lekangu has urged parents to shun the retrogressive cultural practice and protect their daughters.

"We are against this outdated practice and those found engaging in it will be dealt with by the law," said Mr. Lekangu.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual campaign that begins on November 25 and runs through to December 10.

Civil society groups have called on the government to address the high number of gender based violence incidents reported across the country.