Trans Nzoia: Women lauded for mitigating suicide and marital violence cases

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 16 Dec, 2021 15:14 | < 1 min read
A photo of women holding hands. PHOTO/COURTESY

Women groups in Trans-Nzoia have been commended for containing cases of suicides that are driven by depression with statistics showing a decrease in numbers.
 
This emerged during a forum that brought on board the groups in an annual meeting upon which they said they also offer counselling services to couples in a bit to prevent cases of marital violence.

“We are experiencing a drop in cases of couples taking their own lives which had become a serious concern with women joining hands to pull resources to address the challenge," Zainab Keter one of the conveners of the meeting held at Maili Saba hall in Trans Nzoia East Sub-county noted.
 
Her sentiments were echoed by other members and especially women leaders who lauded the move by the organization dubbed SILC under the Catholic Dioceses of Kitale which has taken upon itself to ensure marginalized women are able to access cheap loans.

“We tried to access loans in big financial institutions like banks but we could not manage due to numerous requirements including security with the majority of pieces of land in our county being owned by men thus women being left vulnerable.”

Grace Were a local women’s leader says the move by women to seek economic empowerment through organized groups has enabled them to meet their needs hence reducing burdens on their husbands leading to peace in their marriages.

“We have seen a sharp decrease in domestic violence cases and deaths resulting from financial problems due to such initiatives and laud the move by the Catholic dioceses.”

They have however called on the government to relax conditions required for registration of such groups.

“It is tiresome to register such groups due to many requirements by the county government and the national government,” Lydia Mutoro noted.