Isiolo Pushes for Countywide Referral Pathways to Strengthen Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
The Isiolo County Gender Technical Working Group, a consortium of state and non-state actors working to eradicate gender-based violence (GBV), has called for the establishment of county referral pathways to better track and manage GBV cases reported in the region.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by community women-led organizations working on GBV related issues, National Gender Equality Commission (NGEC) County Coordinator Dr. Luke Nahashon said the proposed referral pathways would help coordinate services offered to GBV survivors across the county.
He noted that the initiative would also serve as a platform to bring together development partners, as well as county and national government agencies, to strengthen multi-sectoral efforts aimed at ending GBV.
Dr. Nahashon commended development partners, including SHARP and Plan International, for introducing coordination mechanisms to prevent GBV, particularly those that prioritize the involvement of community-led organizations.
He further urged stakeholders to establish a joint database for all GBV cases to enhance information sharing, monitoring, and accountability among the various actors involved.
Dorothy Okemo, who works with SHARP—a project implemented in Isiolo, Marsabit, and Mandera counties targeting adolescents and teenagers—said the initiative would greatly benefit from the collaborative approach. She emphasized the importance of improving data quality to support effective planning, coordination, and service delivery.
Isiolo County Director of Family Health, Dr. Mayan Lekirimbotok, highlighted the need to establish GBV centers and one-stop shops where survivors can access both health and legal services under one roof, reducing the burden of navigating multiple institutions. She also called for increased awareness on digital forms of GBV, noting that such cases are on the rise.
Echoing her concerns, Erick Bundi from the Ministry of Education said digital platforms are increasingly being used to prey on adolescents in Isiolo. He urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant in order to curb emerging trends that contribute to gender-based violence.
