Official data reported elsewhere in this newspaper shows that government spending on GBV is a fraction of what was pledged.
In 2021, the state committed to investing Sh2.97 billion in GBV prevention and response. By 2026, this was supposed to rise to at least Sh5 billion.
Yet, only Sh129 million was allocated in 2021-22 — less than one-tenth of the promise.
This is not just a budget issue. It is a moral failure.
Kenyan women and girls are being raped, beaten and killed. Survivors face trauma, stigma and poverty. Shelters are underfunded.
Justice is slow or non-existent. And while the government has increased funds to the anti-FGM board and received donor support, these efforts remain isolated and far below the scale of the crisis.
We recognise small gains. But they are not enough.
We must stop hiding behind paperwork and start protecting people. We must urgently invest in support for survivors, shelters, legal aid and community education.
The state must build the long-promised GBV management system. It must honour its international commitments and treat this as the emergency it is.
Quote of the Day: “No sooner said than done - so acts your man of worth.”
Czech writer Franz Kafka died on June 3, 1924
