Residents during the Shofco event on GBV in Nyeri./HANDOUTShining Hope for Communities (Shofco) has intensified its campaign against rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nyeri County with the training of over 1,000 gender champions and 500 trainers to strengthen prevention and community response mechanisms.
County health data shows that 335 cases of sexual violence were recorded in public health facilities in 2022.
The numbers further rose to 361 and 371 in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Residents during the Shofco event on GBV in Nyeri./HANDOUT“We cannot remain silent as violence continues to destroy families and rob vulnerable people of their dignity and safety. Nyeri County has continued to face serious challenges related to gender-based violence, and this rising trend demands action from all quarters,” Governor Kahiga said.
He said community-driven prevention efforts offered a sustainable way of tackling the growing crisis by addressing harmful behaviours before violence occurs.
“Shofco is doing the right thing by investing in prevention and empowering communities to become protectors of one another. Creating awareness and training people at the grassroots level is an important step in changing attitudes and preventing abuse before it happens,” he said.
On her part, Gender CEC said the county recorded 512 sexual violence cases in 2025 across health centres in the county.
“The numbers we are seeing are worrying. I have discussed this with Shofco to see areas of collaboration to bring the numbers down,” Ndung’u said.
Ms Ndungú said many other cases go unreported.
Dr Kennedy Odede, Shofco's chief executive officer speaks during the event in Nyeri./HANDOUT
“A worrying number of perpetrators are young people, and this points to a broader challenge around empowerment and opportunities. We must address the root causes if we are to reduce violence in our communities,” Ngunyi said.
He also raised concern over the absence of shelters for survivors, saying Nyeri and the wider region currently lack a safe house for people escaping abuse.
“One of our greatest challenges is that we do not have a safe house for survivors of gender-based violence. In fact, there is no safe house in the whole region, leaving many victims exposed even after reporting abuse,” he said.
Dr Kennedy Odede, Shofco's chief executive officer, said his organisation was prioritising prevention through community-led solutions.
“We believe prevention starts within communities themselves. Sustainable solutions to gender-based violence will come when people are empowered to identify harmful practices, and speak up,” said Odede.
He added: “That is why we are investing in champions and trainers who can become the first responders and trusted voices within communities. We are also considering the establishment of a safe shelter to support survivors who have nowhere to turn to during moments of crisis.”
