Gender-Based Violence: Women MPs share their experiences, call for stiff laws

Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss recalled how she was once forced to hire private security personnel to protect her. This was despite having reported the case to the police, who never offered any help.

Speaking while presiding over Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association (KEWOPA) to observe the 16 days of gender activism, Boss accused the police of being complicit in cases of GBV.

“I have personally as an MP reported to the police violence meted on me, even when I got restricting orders against the person, police never helped, I was forced to higher young boys to help with my security” Boss said.

On her part, Aldai MP Maryanne Keitany shared an incident where she was evicted from her house in 2018, with the police escorting those who were evicting her.

Keitany who went through a bitter divorce case said she was traumatized but decided to make her ordeal public to help the many women who were silently going through such experiences.

“I decided to go through a court process and I made it public. So many people know me today, not because of my previous work but because of that court case, and many people have so far spoken out because of my experience, because it was like a soap opera” Said Keitany 

In her speech, KEWOPA vice chair Rosa Buyu asked MPs to come up with stiffer laws to ensure the vice is uprooted from society. 

Buyu said despite the huge strides made in combating the vice, many are still suffering in silence.

“If members of parliament are going through such things, imagine what is happening to the common woman, and that is why we need to come out with innovative ways of fighting GBV, we must enhance our legislation and involve even involve men in this fight,” Buyu said

“GBV doesn’t respect positions, it doesn’t respect class, anyone can go through it, and it’s our duty to make sure that we stop this vice,” Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda said.