Woman, 38, hospitalised after assault by husband in Nakuru

A 38-year-old woman is receiving treatment for serious injuries at Naivasha Subcounty Hospital after she was attacked by her husband.

The woman is said to have been hit with a metal rod during a quarrel over Sh200.

Rose Wanja said her husband came home on Monday while intoxicated and started a fight accusing her of taking some Sh200 he claimed he had left in the house and proceeded to attack her repeatedly with the rod in a locked room.

Wanja was rescued when her niece reported the incident to the police two days later when the husband was arrested.

The mother of three suffered injuries to her face and legs and had her pelvis fractured.

She expressed regret over her 22-year marriage which has been marked by repeated physical abuse,  following the recent life-threatening incident.

“My husband served a three-year jail term at Naivasha GK prison after he assaulted and killed our two-month-old baby with a metal rod nine years ago in a similar incident,” Wanja said.

Wanja said her husband who has been arrested should face the law for his actions to serve as a deterrent to others.

According to Benjamin Mwaura the Deputy Chief Nurse at Naivasha Subcounty Hospital, Wanja was admitted with severe bruises on her face, legs, and neck and a fractured pelvis.

Although her condition has stabilised, Mwaura said she remains unable to walk due to the pelvic fracture and that the condition may take months to recover.

Mwaura said the hospital continues to handle numerous cases of gender-based violence, highlighting a recent case where a woman was severely scalded with hot water by her husband.

John Kinuthia, Naivasha Gender-Based Violence Cluster Coordinator, said Wanja has endured severe pain from years of abuse, culminating in this near-fatal incident.

Kinuthia said he will provide Wanja with safe shelter and psychosocial support to aid her recovery from the trauma and bruises.

Kinuthia expressed concern over the rising cases of gender-based violence often linked to mental health issues and economic hardships families are facing.

“We have seen an increase in violence against women in Naivasha, particularly in  Kabati, Kinamba, Karati, and Mai Mahiu areas,” Kinuthia said.

He commended the efforts of the police and judiciary in swiftly handling abuse and violence cases, urging victims to report such incidents to authorities for prompt action.

According to the Kenya Democratic Health Survey, 2022, over 31 per cent of women in Nakuru aged  15 - 49 who are either married or have an intimate partner have faced physical, sexual and emotional violence from their spouses.

The report revealed that 24 per cent of women in Nakuru County have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

Nationally, statistics indicate that over 40 per cent of women in marriage have experienced physical violence with hundreds of women killed mostly by their partners.

The government has committed to end GBV  by 2026 and although several laws have been enacted to address the root cause of these incidents, cases continue to be reported on a daily basis mostly to women and young girls who have been victims of sexual abuse.

The state in partnership with NGOs has also facilitated the establishment of gender desks at police stations across the country where victims of violence report these incidents before they turn fatal.

To this effect, actors continue to call for a multi-stakeholder approach that involves all people in the community, civil society and security agencies.