The Epidemic Within the Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic brought a lot of activities to a halt as governments worldwide – including Kenya – put measures in place to curb the spread of the virus. Some of the measures included lockdowns as people were encouraged to stay at home when necessary. Employers also started downsizing, sending many employees back home to reduce interactions.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought a lot of activities to a halt as governments worldwide – including Kenya – put measures in place to curb the spread of the virus. Some of the measures included lockdowns as people were encouraged to stay at home when necessary. Employers also started downsizing, sending many employees back home to reduce interactions.

These measures put potential victims of gender-based violence at a higher risk (GBV) since they tended to be in the same spaces, for long hours, with their would-be tormentors. They were also unable to seek assistance from the relevant bodies established to deal with the vice.

Covid-19 has been a rude awakening on how harsh gender-based violence is, in Kenya. It justifies it being referred to as an epidemic; an epidemic within the pandemic.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a staggering increase in the reports related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Recent studies show that the number of cases reported has doubled the number of grievous bodily harm cases as a result of GBV reported pre-pandemic.

The patriarchal nature of African communities has contributed to numerous cases bearing the typical vicious hallmarks of gender and sexual harassment. The United Nations even called for a ‘global ceasefire’ on ending this kind of violence asking governments to focus resources on stopping this epidemic (within the pandemic).

 

Causes of gender-based Violence during the Covid-19 period:

Economic and social restrictions: Women and girls at this time find themselves more dependent on their male counterparts, who take advantage of their inability to acquire help due to their new economic situations imposed by the pandemic.

Pre-existing violence in families: The patriarchal system has instilled the belief that some forms of violence from one’s husband or father is an act of love or a form of asserting dominance. This has led to repeated abuse which was controlled by women being in the workplaces during the day and girls being in schools. With the schools closed and slow business in the workplaces, the victims are now at home with their abusers, which has led to the situation escalating.

Harmful traditional practices: young girls are often victims of such practices as female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriages. The government and various NGOs have provided shelters where they run to in such cases. Most of these shelters were locked down due to the Covid-19 safety protocols, leading girls back to the hands of their perpetrators. The closure of these shelters opened a new can of worms to those who wanted to escape their homes when forced into harmful traditional practices. The financial hardships faced by the families may prompt them to force their daughters into marriages for the promise of a hefty dowry. With schools and shelters closed, there were no such places where the victims could run to.

Dusk to dawn curfew: The curfew has been recently lifted, but this was after a series of horrific cases being reported of the many forms of violence facing young girls and women. The curfew curtailed women from running to safer places when at risk to avoid getting arrested during the curfew hours. They were also not able to seek medical assistance, which led to some succumbing to the injuries sustained.

In brief, GBV takes many forms, all related to some kind of aggravation towards another person based on their gender. The situation has worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now being termed the GBV epidemic due to the many horrific cases being reported.

This is a result of the protocols that have been put in place to curb the spread of the virus, consequently placing the victims under the same roof as their perpetrators. The government has implemented some measures to help cushion the situation. However, a lot is left to be desired.

 

Ann Gethi is a LLB student at Egerton University


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