Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed has called on the Mombasa County Government to reopen a section of road leading to a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) centre, saying its closure has made it difficult to access the facility.
Speaking at a public event attended by Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Zamzam said she recently visited the centre with officials from Nairobi who were assessing the facility, only to find that the access road had been closed.
She appealed to the governor to intervene and direct the relevant county department to restore access to the centre, arguing that the facility is intended to provide a safe space for women experiencing violence and other forms of hardship.
"We recently visited the centre with officials from Nairobi and found that the road had been closed. I appeal to the governor to speak to the relevant county executive so that the road can be reopened because many women need to access that facility," she said.
The Woman Representative said the centre is expected to offer more than emergency support, with plans to equip it with vocational training facilities where survivors can learn tailoring, baking and other income-generating skills to help them rebuild their lives.
She said women facing domestic challenges should be able to seek refuge at the centre together with their children, receive counselling, acquire practical skills and eventually earn an income before returning to independent living.
Zamzam noted that many women continue to suffer abuse in their homes, with some arriving at support centres bearing serious injuries while others have lost their lives as a result of violence.
She urged women not to remain in abusive relationships until the situation becomes life-threatening but instead seek help as soon as they recognise warning signs.
"I appeal to women not to wait until they are attacked with a machete. If you can see that the situation is becoming dangerous, seek assistance early," she said.
She also appealed to men to treat their spouses with dignity, describing wives as the foundation of peaceful homes, while encouraging women to appreciate their partners as part of efforts to reduce cases of domestic violence.
Governor Abdulswamad echoed the call to end violence against women, stressing that there is no justification for physically assaulting women.
"I want to tell men that women should never be beaten," the governor said.
Responding to concerns over the blocked road, Abdulswamad said he would seek an explanation from the relevant county officials.
He explained that the area is currently undergoing development as part of plans to improve waste management infrastructure in Mwakirunge, including the possibility of the establishment of a recycling plant where waste such as plastics and paper will be sorted before processing.
The governor said the ongoing construction works could be linked to the road closure but added that he would establish the exact reason and explore whether provisions, including a weighbridge, were being incorporated into the project.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google