‘The silence must end': Women senators lead bold campaign against GBV in Mandera
Nominated Senator Mariam Sheikh Omar expressed deep concern over the sharp increase in GBV cases in the county, calling for collective action and an end to the culture of silence surrounding the issue.
Women senators have launched a countywide awareness campaign in Mandera to promote justice and safeguard the rights of women and girls, following alarming reports of more than 400 gender-based violence (GBV) cases in the past year.
The campaign dubbed ‘Komesha Dhulma’ seeks to raise public consciousness about the dangers of GBV and empower survivors to seek legal redress.
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The campaign is being led by Nominated Senator Mariam Sheikh Omar, who is from Mandera, in collaboration with the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) and several human rights organisations.
Senator Mariam expressed deep concern over the sharp increase in GBV cases in the county, calling for collective action and an end to the culture of silence surrounding the issue.
“The silence around GBV must end. Women must rise and speak out. This is not just a women’s issue—it is a societal crisis that demands urgent action,” she said.
She reiterated KEWOSA’s commitment to pushing for stronger legislation and enhanced protection mechanisms for women and girls, urging institutions and communities to take a firm stance against abuse.
Report abuse
Mandera East Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Cheboton, who joined the launch event, echoed the senator’s sentiments and emphasised the need for survivors to use available legal channels to report abuse.
“We have gender desks in every police station. Let us make use of them to ensure victims of GBV get the help they need,” Cheboton said.
Women leaders have also condemned the misuse of the traditional Maslaha system to resolve GBV cases outside formal legal processes, saying it often silences victims and denies them justice.
They warned that culture should not be used as a shield for injustice.
Religious leaders were also urged not to minimise or justify acts of GBV, cautioning that such positions could have serious moral and spiritual consequences.
Despite the challenges, Mandera County has seen minor progress in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM), with the prevalence rate falling by 0.2 per cent over the last two years.
The Komesha Dhulma campaign aims to break the stigma around reporting abuse, empower survivors and reinforce the importance of justice for all genders across Mandera.
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