Gender Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo led a high-level roundtable meeting in Narok County on Monday amid growing concern over rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse in the region. The meeting brought together Gender Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe, Narok Woman Representatives Rebecca Tonkei and Agnes Pareyio, and several local leaders.
The leaders convened at the county headquarters to address the disturbing surge in reports of abuse targeting women and children, a trend that has sparked national concern. The closed-door session aimed to assess existing support mechanisms and strengthen collaborative efforts between government, local authorities, and the community.
Cheptumo condemned the increasing incidents of GBV and child abuse, describing them as a direct attack on the country’s core values and constitutional rights. She reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring perpetrators face full legal consequences, while also calling for enhanced community engagement in prevention efforts.
The meeting was convened following a series of alarming reports from the region, including recent cases involving underage girls subjected to sexual violence and harmful cultural practices. Some of the cases have already been flagged by children’s officers and civil society groups for urgent intervention.
Participants agreed to intensify outreach and education efforts, particularly in rural areas where awareness remains low. They also called for better coordination between law enforcement, healthcare workers, and social service providers to fast-track response to abuse cases.
The discussions also touched on gaps in the judicial process, including delays in prosecuting offenders and inadequate victim protection. The leaders urged national agencies to deploy additional resources to counties like Narok, which have recorded persistent gender-related violations.
Cheptumo’s presence in Narok signaled the national government’s intention to monitor county-level action plans more closely. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between elected leaders and grassroots actors in addressing deeply rooted social norms that enable abuse.
The forum concluded with a joint resolution to scale up preventive strategies, improve reporting systems, and reinforce the enforcement of children’s and women’s rights laws at all levels.
By Nairobi