KENYA AND FINLAND GOVERNMENTS SIGN MOU TO END GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN KILIFI COUNTY

The government is committed to strengthening partnerships to end Gender Based Violence. Speaking at Pwani University in Kilifi County this afternoon, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action Hon. Aisha Jumwa underscored the need for the national government, county government and development partners to work cohesively in order to realise the government’s agenda. Hon. Jumwa was speaking during the launch and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Kenya-Finland Bilateral Programme on Gender-Based Violence in Kenya.

The £6 million bilateral programme is funded by the Governments of Kenya and Finland and will run from 2022 -2024 in the counties of Kilifi, Bungoma and Samburu. The programme will strengthen systems and structures at the national and county levels and protect those who are most vulnerable to Gender-Based Violence and other harmful practices.

The Cabinet Secretary commended the Gender Sector Working Groups for their support in the planning process noting that strengthening partnerships and coordination was paramount for the programme to be successful.

Hon. Jumwa said she was grateful for the way all the stakeholders have worked together to prioritize the unique needs in Kilifi. She urged the stakeholders to build on what is working and to develop new ideas and solutions.

Kilifi County is the first one of three counties to sign the Memorandum of Understanding and to launch it at the county level. According to the statistics, there are 21 high-priority and 16 medium-priority wards in the county. The predominant forms of Gender Based Violence include child marriage (47%), intimate partner violence (39%), teenage pregnancy (20-24%), defilement (7%) and FGM among one of the minority groups in the county. Incest, sodomy and psychological violence are also cited as rising issues of concern.

Also present at the event was the Deputy Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Otto Kivinen; Kilifi County Governor, Hon. Gideon Mung’aro; State Department for Gender Secretary, Ms. Faith Kasiva; and Kilifi County Women Representative, Hon. Gertrude Mbeyu among other stakeholders.