New approach needed to fight against GBV

Despite continued efforts to address gender based violence, it is regrettable that hardly a day passes without reports of murder, rape, beatings, or other forms of violence against women and girls.

It's on this backdrop that justice players are calling for change on approach to tackling the vice.

David Maraga, the chief justice and the president of the Supreme Court of Kenya, said there is need to increase awareness about GBV among community members so that they are able to quickly recognize its various forms and causes as well as appropriate responses.

Maraga added that there is need for empowerment of both men and women to minimize instances of abuse.

"GBV is deeply rooted in the socio-economic and political context. Therefore, legislation alone cannot be used to address it. Domestic violence which is a main form of GBV in Kenya for instance, often results from poverty and resource-based conflicts," he said.

Maraga said the stakeholders within the criminal justice system must purpose to prevent rather than minimize instances of abuse.

"We need to embrace gender mainstreaming in our policies and strategies. GBV has significant negative effects. It results in emotional depression, psychological trauma, physical injuries and perpetual deprivation of social and economic entitlements," he said.

He said the minimum mandatory sentence has not resulted in the reduction of GBV especially in defilement. Hence, stakeholders must make deliberate and concerted efforts to research and find out why cases of gender based violence continue to increase despite the stringent penalties provided by the law.