Ministry of Public Service and Gender Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rachel Shebesh has raised concern over rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.
She, however, says the national and county governments are working on ways of mitigating the menace across the country.
Speaking in Kisumu today, the CAS said the two levels of government were working on the mechanism of increasing the number of gender-based recovery centers across the country in order to serve as a safe haven for women who fall victim.
Shebesh noted that the violence has been exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic and flooding where spouses are forced to stay in one area for long.
The CAS made the remarks today in Kisumu after meeting the Kisumu County Commissioner Susan Waweu and Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o before assessing work being done by youth and National Youth Service (NYS) on Kazi Mtaani in Kisumu County.
She liked gender-based violence to mental health problems that can be addressed by spouses talking to each other and resolving any underlying issues.
On supporting the vulnerable in the community, the CAS said the government is currently running various funds including supporting women and the people living with disabilities through Women Enterprise Fund (WEF), Uwezo Fund and National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
She said the National government was working in partnership with the county government to increase the uptake of these funds in order to cushion the vulnerable people post COVID-19.
“We want to help Mama Mboga, car washer back to business since our loans do not attract any interest, loanees only pay the principal amount,” she added.
At the same time, the CAS said the government is currently assessing the situation in all Huduma centers across the country, with a view to restoring normal government services.
“We are assessing to see whether normal operations can resume,” she said.
The National government suspended most services being offered at Huduma centers save for a collection of processed Identity Cards and Birth Certificates in mid-March this year due to fear of the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.
The CAS directed that all uncollected ID cards still lying at various registration centres across the country be issued to National administration officials through the County Commissioners for distribution to the owners.
