Arise Media 
BY RITA MUTHONI
Stakeholders in the fight against gender discrimination have decried an increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Embu County.
Led by Uraia Trust County Co-ordinator Sospeter Gitonga, they said Embu was rated the 6th in the country with high cases of female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Speaking during the launch of 16 days of activism against GBV at the University of Embu, Gitonga added that the number of teenage pregnancies was at 15% in the County.
“The rising cases of GBV in this County is a stain on our community. We need to address this crisis head-on,” he said.
Gitonga has challenged locals to be on the front line in battling GBV.
Gitonga extended the call to parents, urging them to play a proactive role in shaping their children’s behavior by instilling discipline, emphasizing it was critical in preventing behaviors that may lead to involvement in GBV crimes.
Embu ActionAid representative Eveline Kaswili lamented that many GBV cases veered away from the court, leaving survivors grappling with a sense of injustice.
Fear of retaliation, societal judgment, and a lack of faith in the legal system are among the primary factors deterring survivors from seeking justice in the courtroom.
Kaswili added that other witnesses failed to attend court sessions due to financial issues.
The duo appealed to the government to launch a policy where they can facilitate victims of GBV to get legal services on a pro bono basis.
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