Leaders in Kericho County have raised alarm over the rising number of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases and are now involving boda boda operators as key partners in efforts to fight the vice through a new awareness and empowerment initiative.
During the official launch of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Awareness Initiative at Cheptororiet-Seretet village in Belgut Sub-County, Kericho Woman Representative Beatrice Kemei revealed that 81 SGBV cases had been reported in the county since January this year, a majority involving minors, decrying the continued silence and delayed justice for victims as many perpetrators remained at large.
The event also served as an awareness initiative for the Cheptororiet-Seretet Boda Boda SACCO, an empowerment drive that brought together hundreds of boda boda riders in a strategy aimed at addressing social and economic issues simultaneously.
The woman rep emphasized that tackling gender-based violence required a multi-pronged approach, adding that the boda boda sector, being deeply embedded in the community, played a critical role. "The boda boda industry is more than a transport sector, it is a community touchpoint.
