Hon. Aisha Jumwa, the CS for the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action, together with several leaders in the ministry and Nairobi County, recently visited the ongoing construction of a safe house for victims of gender based violence.

The safe haven located in Nairobi with 51 rooms to accommodate about 102 people, it is set to be open its doors in this coming December. The ministry, in accordance to its core values, continues to put in place programs and policies to ensure the prevention of gender based violence and respond accordingly to any form of violence.

Creating such safe spaces across the country is one of the very important missions of the ministry, with about 54 shelters at the moment. The safe house in Nairobi will not only provide shelter to the victims but also psychosocial support services to aid in the journey of recovery.

The ministry in partnership with Gender Based Violence 1195 Hotline provides 24 hours tele-counselling services as well as rescue missions to victims of abuse. The hotline service aims to give rapid assistance for healthcare and referrals.

In partnership with the county governments and the Ministry of Health, the ministry is also on the road to establishing Gender Based Recovery Centers where survivors will be receiving integrated healthcare and psychosocial services. In Kilifi General Hospital, a center has been set to cater to the victims in the region.

Providing safe houses such as the one under construction will provide victims a safe haven to health both physical and emotional wounds in a safe space as well as provide kinship to them. Removing victims from the abusive spaces will reduce the rampant cases of maiming and unfortunate deaths.

The President has also pledged to ensure the creation of women rights agency tasked with the protection of gender based violence victims. On many occasions, President Ruto has vehemently condemned gender based violence, promising to the tame abuse in partnership with the law enforcement agencies.

The government has worked on increasing the number of police stations and posts in the mashinani, which in turn has increased the response time and brought about rapid assistance to communities.

The government also continues to empower local leaders such chiefs, with the skills for conflict management in a bid to decrease the rates of gender based violence in the communities. Creating these spaces by the Ministry tasked with Gender is the government’s proof of protecting its citizens in all aspects of life. Empowering the victims to heal and better, more productive members of society socially and economically