As Kilifi County unveils a transformative project aimed at addressing gender-based violence (GBV), questions are being raised about Taita Taveta County’s pace in tackling the same issue.
While Kilifi County’s bold steps are already yielding tangible results, progress in Taita Taveta seems slower, despite growing needs.
Kilifi County, in partnership with the Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) and Population Services Kenya (PS Kenya), recently launched its first-ever Gender-Based Violence Rescue Center.
Located in the Fumbini area of Kilifi Town, the center promises a new era of protection and justice for vulnerable populations facing GBV.
The facility, which can accommodate over 100 people and is expected to serve more than 500 victims annually, marks a significant milestone in the region’s fight against gender-based violence.
Kilifi County, like many parts of Kenya, has been grappling with high level of GBV, with 45% of women aged 15-49 having experienced physical or sexual violence.
Cultural practices, poverty and lack of shelter services have worsened the situation, making this shelter a critical solution for the GBV cases in the region.
In contrast, Taita Taveta County is still grappling with challenges in completing its own GBV rehabilitation center in Bura Ward of Mwatate Sub County.
The project, which is 80% complete, has faced delays due to resource constraints and a heavy reliance on partnerships, such as the one with the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), supported by the County’s Women Rep Lydia Haika.
While Kilifi County has successfully operationalized its center, Taita Taveta’s facility remains unfinished, with only partial infrastructure and no clear timeline for when it will be fully functional.
Speaking to Tsavo Media Network, Taita Taveta’s County Executive for Youth, Sports, Gender, Culture, and Social Services, Shedrack Mutungi highlighted the county’s ongoing efforts in ensuring the facility is completed.
While he noted progress, including partnerships with organizations like Action Aid and Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), much of the county’s work remains in the planning stages.
“We are working to ensure that it is connected to power and that other small requirements are met so that those affected by gender-based violence can be accommodated,” said Mutungi.
For instance, while Kilifi has already built its center, Taita Taveta is still in the process of developing and passing an SGBV Bill to supplement an existing policy that lacks enforcement mechanisms.
“Beyond the rehabilitation center, we have addressed gender-based violence, particularly sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), by developing an SGBV policy. This policy has been passed and gazetted, and it will be used to ensure that cases of gender-based violence are addressed effectively,” stated Mutungi adding that, “We recognize that the policy may not carry enough weight. Therefore, last week, we began the process of drafting an SGBV Bill. On the first of next month, we will have a meeting with stakeholders to work on the bill before taking it to the County Assembly for approval.”
Meanwhile, Kilifi’s center, which was launched by Deputy Governor Flora Mbetsa Chibule and Mr. Henrik Larsen from the Danish Embassy, offers comprehensive support, including medical care, counseling, and legal aid.
This holistic approach is intended not just to provide a safe space but to ensure survivors are empowered to rebuild their lives.
“This shelter is not just a response but a promise of safety, healing, and a future free from violence for our women and girls,” said Ms. Chibule during the unveiling ceremony.
Speaking to Tsavo Media Network, Mercy Nyambu, a representative of the Taita Taveta Women Rep Lydia Haika’s office, acknowledges the pressing challenges stating that many GBV victims in the county are still being sent to distant facilities in places like Mombasa, putting a strain on families and delaying access to justice.
She pointed out that the county’s existing orphanage in Taveta Sub County is too small to meet the growing demand for shelter, with some children being forced to return to abusive households due to a lack of proper facilities.
“There are numerous challenges related to gender-based violence, affecting both boys and girls. We have many cases in our county. In Taveta Sub County, we had an orphanage, but it was too small to accommodate the number of affected individuals,” said Nyambu.
Nyambu stated that very soon, the center will be completed, remaining optimistic that it will be of great help.
She noted that currently, young children who are mistreated in the parks are taken to police stations that do not have cells for those under the age of 18 subjecting them to more challenges.
Nyambu said, “This is problematic because some children have been mistreated by close relatives and returning them to the same family becomes a challenge due to fear. In some cases, the children are hidden.”
According to Sam Thenya, founder of GVRC, the Kilifi center is part of a national initiative to build 13 such facilities across the country, offering survivors a haven of safety and hope.
In Taita Taveta, however, despite Mutungi’s assurance that the county is treating the matter with urgency, significant gaps remain.
Although the county’s intentions are clear, the pace of progress on the ground has been slow.
“On the side of the county government, we have a significant task ahead of us in hiring officers to work at the center. We are treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves and are actively seeking officers who will manage the center and be employed by the county government,” Mutungi stated.
Plans to build “safe stations” across the County are still in early stages, and the county government has yet to secure funding for key resources like a GBV rescue van.
“In partnership with Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), we are exploring ways to construct “safe stations” in the sub-counties, where those affected can seek shelter before being relocated to the center. We are doing a lot to address this issue,” he added.
As Kilifi County sets a high bar in the fight against GBV, the situation in Taita Taveta serves as a reminder of the importance of timely action. With rising cases of GBV in the county, it is important that local leadership accelerates its efforts to complete ongoing projects and ensure vulnerable populations are protected.
