More Sensitization Needed Despite Drop In GBV Cases

By Isabella Maua

Despite the fact that cases of gender-based violence have reduced significantly within the Mt Elgon region of Bungoma County in Western Kenya, cases of defilement have still been reported in the recent past.

Speaking during a review meeting with watch groups held by the Kenya Red Cross in Kopsiro last week, Dr Jesse Wamocho, Sexual Reproductive Health Officer for Bungoma County, reported a significant decrease in teenage mothers from the year 2024.

“From January 2024 to July 2024 there were 1,079 recorded cases of teenage pregnancies between 10 and 19 years, while in 2025 there were 716 cases recorded during the same period,” he said.

Despite the promising trajectory, there lies an alarming rise of fathers defiling their daughters in Mt Elgon Sub County.Rose Chemos, Mt Elgon focal person for Kenya Red Cross Bungoma, revealed that after talks with men around the most affected areas of the region, they said that their wives are to blame for the vice.

Many men are complaining that their wives are not performing their matrimonial duties, so the men are slowly drawn to their daughters, who are more often than not closer to them.According to one man:

“Our wives claim that they are often very tired from farm work and their backs are hurting; they also leave most of the kitchen work to the girls who cook and serve us, so we find ourselves tempted.”

Carol Cheuno, a teacher on gender-based violence and also an advocate for widows and orphans, highlighted negligence among parents to be one of the greatest causes of GBV, especially among teen girls.

“It is sad that even in this century open sex talk with our children remains a taboo in the Sabaot Community, and that is why it has even become difficult to even prosecute the perpetrators who are known,” cited Cheuno.

Echoing her sentiments, Dr Wamocho cited some cases where children and teenagers who were defiled failed to use correct terms to provide incriminating evidence, hence giving leeway to perpetrators who came back to the community to continue with the vice.“Let us teach our children about their bodies and that they should openly talk to their parents and teachers whenever anyone tries to touch their bodies inappropriately; this will save them a great deal,” reiterated Janet Khisa, GBV Coordinator.

Whistleblowers from the Mosop and Chepyuk areas located in the northern parts of Mt Elgon next to the forest en route to Uganda cited the need for more sensitization, especially when it comes to female genital mutilation and intimate partner violence.

“Many people from those very remote areas are still in darkness and lack knowledge on GBV; we need more champions to be trained so that we can completely eliminate such cases in the future,” advised one of the champions from Mosop.

As the Kenya Red Cross project draws to an end in early 2026, there still remains a need to bring more whistleblowers on board from the community, government and non-profit organisations to ensure zero tolerance of GBV.