Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) is one of the most persistent and constant violations of human rights across the globe. Cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are rife in Kenya. The major types affecting families include domestic violence, sexual abuse cases like rape and harmful cultural practices such as child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The effects of this slowly but steadily normalized abnormality can range from physical harm, long term emotional distress and even fatalities in the most extreme circumstances. However the judiciary remains an elusive avenue for victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, due to the huge backlog of cases in the mainstream courts that culminate to a slow judicial process.

A report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) lists Migori County as one of top hotspots of SGBV cases in the country. The report further indicates that 51% of women in the county have experienced Gender Based Violence, a figure higher than the national average which stands at 34%.

Establishing a specialized GBV court in Migori County will ease the case backlog in the mainstream courts consequently encouraging more residents to embrace litigation as method of conflict resolution and gain public trust in the judiciary. Further, hastening the litigation process on SGBV cases will play an intergral role in discouraging perpetrators from committing such offences.

With the Chief Justice having launched the first specialized courts early this year, join me in emphasizing the necessity to urgently extend the establishment to Migori County in order to mitigate the sharply rising cases of GBV as well as making justice accessible for victims.

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