The ODPP Kilifi team has assured the public that it will intensify the prosecution of all Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases to ensure victims receive justice.
The team was speaking during a Court Users Committee (CUC) meeting on GBV held May 21.
Prosecution Counsel Ridhwan Abdi told Kilifi Senior Principal Magistrate Ivy Wasike led meeting at Mnarani Beach Club, that the office will complement efforts by other justice actors to mitigate SGBV challenges in the society.
"The office has developed policies and mechanisms to ensure SGBV matters are prosecuted effectively and efficiently," the team said.
The meeting was the inaugural GBV subcommittee meeting geared towards sensitization of members on their role in addressing the underlying factors linked to cases of gender-based violence within Kilifi sub-county.
The team said that the main agenda was a presentation of the status of GBV in the county, the statistics and contributing factors.
"Statistics indicate that Kilifi sub-county has 47 per cent cases of child marriages, 13 per cent cases of teen pregnancies, rape and defilement at 7 per cent while intimate partner violence at 38 per cent."
The team said that the CUC members engaged in group work where they came up with work plans for the public sensitization program geared towards involving locals in the campaigns.
The meeting was hosted by Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW).
It was attended by state and non-state actors including ODPP, judiciary, probation and after-case service, prisons service, Kilifi county government and Non Governmental Organization(NGO).