West Pokot County Partners with GVRC and Declares Kenya to Combat Gender-Based Violence

This morning, H.E. Achaule Robert Komolle, Deputy Governor of West Pokot County, hosted a team from the Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) – Nairobi Women’s Hospital College and Declares Kenya. The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of the #Accelerate program, which aims to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the county.

The team is working collaboratively to provide essential response and support services for GBV survivors, including counseling, shelter, and initiatives to prevent harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Their community engagement efforts include medical outreach, radio programs, and cultural activities such as ball games to raise awareness and foster dialogue around these critical issues.

In collaboration with the Denmark Embassy in Kenya, significant strides have been made in GBV prevention, particularly in the North Rift region. GVRC has emerged as a key player in this initiative, with plans to establish a GBV response unit at Kapenguria Referral Hospital, set to launch soon.

Another key development is a new initiative that will run through 2025 at the St. Elizabeth Rescue Center in Morpus. This project will empower the local community to actively participate in GBV prevention, offering training programs and promoting cultural understanding. The Declare team, along with other NGOs, will play a central role in driving this initiative forward.

Deputy Governor Komolle expressed his appreciation for the invaluable work being done by GVRC and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to working with development partners to improve the well-being of the community.