• Overnighting truckers identified as major culprits. Girls get impregnated by drivers who give them a little money and drive on.
• Poverty, illiteracy, parents seeking early marriage and reporting pregnancies blamed. Open discussions with girls, parents expected.
Image: GEORGE MURAGE
Communities and NGOs are trying to combat gender-based violence by truckers in major towns such as Maai Mahiu, Longonot, Naivasha and Kikopey where truck drivers spend the night.
Community leaders said truckers have been identified as the main culprits in GBV and early pregnancies leading to school dropouts and early marriages.
Parents too have been blamed for not guiding their girls and encouraging early marriage if they fall pregnant, not encouraging them to return to school after giving birth.
Poverty and illiteracy also are factors.
K-Note, a non-governmental organisation, has partnered with local communities to reduce the cases under the Tetea programme sponsored by the European Union.
The partnership was formed when community members converged in Gilgil for a joint declaration on determination to reduce the rising numbers.
Ochieng Ogutu, a director of K-Note, said a baseline survey conducted two years ago identified the towns hardest hit by GBV as Naivasha and Gilgil.
He said the organisation was working with the community to root out the problems that caused many girls to drop out of school due to early pregnancies.
“The survey identified Maai Mahiu, Longonot and Gilgil as some of the towns affected by these negative norms involving minors, and the truck drivers are the common denominator,” he said.
Addressing the press, Ogutu said the programme wanted to come up with interventions and stem the rising cases.
Martin Mwaura, also from K-Note, said truck drivers in transit at different towns had contributed greatly to increasing GBV.
The increase demands the involvement of communities to stem underage pregnancies and early marriages.
“In Naivasha, more than 300 cases of violence targeting minors have already been reported this year and we are working with other state agencies to address this,” he said.
Local leader Samuel Wambugu attributed the high cases to poverty, lack of awareness and cultural beliefs.
He said they have intervened to “fully deal” with negative norms
“In some cases parents are to blame due to ignorance but through this project we have decided to be vocal and speak out about these negative norms,” he said.
Leader Mary Muthoni said early marriages and underage pregnancies were high in Gilgil and some parents encouraged marriages.
“We are now holding discussions openly and without fear as we encourage parents to report cases of underage pregnancies instead of encouraging marriages,” she said.