Harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriages have been identified as key drivers of gender-based violence (GBV) in Isiolo County. During a public engagement forum with the Technical Working Group on GBV, residents described how these traditions continue to expose women and girls to various forms of abuse. Statistics from the Kenya Health Information System show that in 2022, 46% of women and girls in Isiolo experienced physical violence, while 9% were subjected to sexual violence. The prevalence of FGM among girls aged 15 to 19 stands at 65% in the county—far above the national average of 12%.
Residents, particularly women, shared harrowing experiences of domestic battery, forced marriages, emotional abuse, and rape. These acts often go unchallenged due to community tolerance or justification of violence, especially within marriages. “Marital rape is normalized, and women rarely speak out for fear of stigma,” said Viviana Darimo. She also noted that communities often fail to protect survivors, instead siding with perpetrators. Women with disabilities face even greater challenges, from inaccessible reporting systems to mistreatment in healthcare settings. “There’s not a single sign language interpreter at Isiolo Police Station,” said Chule Badase, underscoring the communication barriers for survivors with hearing impairments.
County Anti-GBV Coordinator Francisca Akope called for better resourcing of law enforcement and training for service providers to improve case handling. She criticized the lack of accountability that emboldens perpetrators and deepens survivor trauma. Public scepticism and disbelief, particularly from government officials, were cited as key deterrents to reporting. Taskforce member Beatrice Karwitha emphasized that fear of retaliation prevents many survivors from seeking justice. Michael Kariuki added that security issues like cattle rustling also fuel GBV. The taskforce urged the public to stop resolving cases informally and instead report them through legal channels to aid in data collection and meaningful intervention.
