“HerSay” Report Launches
SAHR and Gumzo Youth Group (Bungoma, Kenya) launched its joint report titled “HerSay”. The report is based on consultations with 1,425 women across the 9 sub-counties of Bungoma County in Kenya.
242 of women who responded were victims of gender-based violence. We also held 9 in-depth focus group discussions with GBV victims, women leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders, business community leaders, elders, police and village administrators. During the discussions, they gave their feedback and recommendations on strengthening coordination and response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Bungoma. You can read the full report here.
We hope this report will spark collaborations with the Bungoma County Government of Kenya to strengthen coordination and management of SGBV cases more effectively across different arms and departments of the government.
The report was produced out of SAHR Gender Justice Fellowship Program, a 12-month program designed to empower civil society leaders to use law and policy to address Sexual and Gender-based Violence in the community.
Prevalence of SGBV in Bungoma County
Bungoma County reports alarmingly high rates of SGBV, with 62% of women experiencing physical violence and 30% facing sexual violence, significantly surpassing the national averages. Through an Access to Justice lens, we analysed the effectiveness and appropriateness of police response from the perspective of the survivors who reported.
Key Findings
The police response to SGBV cases in Bungoma is often inadequate, with survivors reporting dismissive attitudes and lack of sensitivity from officers. A survivor reported being told by the police to "be quick, [as] we don’t have [the] whole day to handle one case." Another survivor mentioned being reprimanded with "stop crying and [to] speak up" during her report. Many survivors also face threats and retaliation upon reporting SGBV incidents, discouraging them from returning to the police for help.
Recommendations for policy reform
Addressing the SGBV crisis in Bungoma requires comprehensive policy reforms, enhanced law enforcement training, better coordination among service providers, and robust community engagement to challenge harmful norms.
Some of the recommendations covered under the report include:
Strengthening legal protections and enforcement mechanisms: Comprehensive policy reforms should aim to provide clear guidelines and ensure accountability in handling SGBV cases.
Intensive training for law enforcement officers: Training should aim to improve law enforcement officers’ handling of SGBV cases, ensuring they can provide sensitive and adequate support to survivors.
Holistic support for survivors: Enhanced coordination among service providers is critical to offering holistic support, including health care, psychosocial services, and legal aid
Community engagement: Initiatives to challenge and change harmful cultural norms and gender stereotypes are crucial. Engaging communities in awareness and prevention efforts can help reduce the stigma and promote reporting of SGBV incidents.
Support for grassroots organizations: Sustained support for local organizations working on the frontlines of SGBV prevention and response is vital. These organizations play a key role in providing immediate assistance and advocacy for survivors.
