The County Government of Machakos has officially launched the 2025 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and Digital Violence against Women and Girls at the Tala Bus Park in Matungulu Sub-County. This year’s campaign carries a powerful call to action: to break the silence that has for too long surrounded abuse, and to ensure that no story goes unheard and no survivor is ignored.
Every day, countless women and girls suffer violence in their homes, communities, and even online spaces. Many never speak out; many others speak but are not heard. Machakos County is determined to change this reality. Our women and girls deserve environments where they feel safe, valued, respected, and free to live their lives with dignity.
Ending gender-based violence is not the responsibility of government alone. It requires the collective effort of everyone—government agencies, NGOs, religious institutions, schools, communities, and individuals. By working together, we can dismantle the harmful norms, inequalities, and systems that allow GBV to persist.
The County’s strategy this year focuses on strengthening the capacity of staff, intensifying awareness creation across all communities, and supporting survivors through established medical, legal, and psychological services. These interventions aim to ensure that survivors receive not only help—but the right help at the right time.
Gender-Based Violence is any harm inflicted on someone because of their gender or sex. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, or economic. While anyone can be affected, women and girls remain disproportionately impacted. Forms of GBV vary widely, from domestic violence and rape to FGM, human trafficking, and digital abuse—an increasingly prevalent threat in today’s connected world. At its core, GBV is driven by unequal power dynamics, harmful gender stereotypes, and a lack of accountability. Its effects are devastating, leaving deep physical, emotional, and economic scars on survivors, their families, and entire communities.
The statistics are sobering. Globally, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In Kenya, 45% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have faced similar forms of violence. These numbers represent real people—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends—whose lives are forever changed. They remind us why this fight cannot wait.
Help is available for those who need it. Survivors can call the National GBV Hotline at 1195 or seek assistance from local partners, including GBV Recovery Centres and women’s rights organizations. No one should have to walk this journey alone.
Everyone has a role to play in ending GBV. Believe survivors when they speak. Challenge harmful attitudes and behaviors. Support the organizations and initiatives working tirelessly to create safer communities. Speak up—because silence only fuels the cycle of abuse.
Machakos County stands united in this cause. Together, we can build a community where every woman and girl is safe, empowered, and free from violence. Together, we can end GBV.
