Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi has decried the increasing number of domestic violence and sexual offense cases in the country following stringent measures effected to fight coronavirus.
Dr. Mwangangi intimated that she witnessed a case of domestic violence over the Easter weekend.
“Within the area that I live in, I had neighbours coming to my house to report a case of domestic violence. There is a lady who was severely beaten,” she said.
Reports from Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) and the National Council on Administration of Justice (NCAJ) indicate that domestic abuse cases have spiked.
“Most of the time it it has been noticed that this violence is perpetrated by close relatives and guardians,” she said.
“Even as we address this between the various government departments, we are calling on Kenyans to focus on fighting the virus and to handle the disputes within the laid down civil structures and devoid of any violence,” Dr. Mwangangi added.
She warned that the law has not been suspended and those that are found culpable of meting violence will be arrested and prosecuted.
The statement by the Health Ministry affirmed that of Chief Justice David Maraga which revealed that sexual offenses constituted 35% of criminal matters reported this month
