President William Ruto Allocates KSh100M for Anti-Femicide Campaign

President William Ruto has announced a significant allocation of KSh100 million to support a nationwide campaign against femicide and gender-based violence in Kenya. The "Safe Homes, Safe Spaces" campaign, set to launch on November 25, 2024 as part of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, aims to establish safe homes and spaces for victims across the country, enhance gender desks in police stations and hospitals, increase awareness through hotlines and community education, and provide psychological support. President Ruto emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address this critical issue affecting Kenyan society, calling upon all citizens to join this movement. The allocation reflects the government's commitment to supporting grassroots efforts to combat gender-based violence and protect women's rights and dignity. Key aspects of the initiative include establishing safe homes and spaces for victims of gender-based violence, enhancing gender desks in police stations and introducing similar services in hospitals to provide immediate assistance to victims, increasing awareness about the signs of abuse, available resources, and toll-free hotlines such as GBV 1195 and child helpline 116, and providing psychological support and counseling services to those affected by gender-based violence. President Ruto urged all Kenyans to participate actively in this campaign, emphasizing the crucial role of parents in protecting their children from these dangers and calling upon religious leaders, schools, and community organizations to step up their efforts in educating young people about the risks associated with social media and online interactions. He also instructed law enforcement agencies to expedite their efforts in bringing perpetrators to justice, underscoring the government's commitment to accountability. This initiative demonstrates the administration's recognition of femicide and gender-based violence as critical national issues that require immediate attention and collective action from all sectors of society.