Violence Against Women During Elections Dropped in Uasin Gishu - Rural Women Peace Link Official

Violence against women during elections has dropped over time compared to the previous elections conducted.

Speaking to the press during a County Women Caucus Group Meeting Mary Lagat, chairperson of Rural Women Peace Link Organization said violence against women dropped with respect to the laid strategies that were undertaken.

“As the Rural Women Peace Link Organization, we were able to sit down before elections and identified the gaps and challenges that women in the society face. We thereafter came up with strategies towards sustainable peace and socio-economic development that’s why the violence stopped,” said Lagat while speaking to the press.

“Strategies that we deployed include training youths on the prevention of violence, football tournaments were organized to preach peace, and women we also educated on domestic violence and their rights among others. From all this training, we as an organization registered minimal violence in Uasin Gishu County.” Said Mary.

She further said financial constraints remain a big problem in helping vulnerable women in society.

“If we could get support from the County, we would have a safe house facility to help women undergoing domestic violence in their homes, and help their mental health,” the chairperson of Rural Women Peace Link Organization said.

Ann Wangai, Gender Desk Department for the Rural Women Peace Link Organization
said violence against women in different wards in Uasin Gishu County dropped, however, a few wards are still worth looking into.

“We still have alarming cases of defilement, especially in Langas. Langas Police station reports at least three cases of defilement in a day even up to now, while domestic violence is five in a day. We still have a lot to do in this case,” Wangai said.

“In Turbo during the election period, five cases of defilement were reported and the court is working on those cases while domestic violence was not more than six. Cheptiret reported ten cases of defilement and domestic violence not reported since women are mean of giving this information to us, probably because we are in a male-dominated society,” said Ann.

She noted while the organization continues to preach peace, women in the society are encouraged to know and exercise their rights and say no to any form of violence.