Following the success of a recent community run, the Meru Press Club has announced plans to expand its campaign on mental health and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) to the grassroots level.
According to the club’s chairperson, David Muchui, the initiative aims to bring together various stakeholders, including mental health professionals and anti-SGBV advocates, to tackle alarming social issues in the region, particularly teenage pregnancies.
The awareness campaign gained momentum during a public run held on September 20 at Meru University of Science and Technology. The event drew participation from local journalists, university students, and prominent athletes.
Muchui emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the rising cases of SGBV in Meru County. “Government data and insights from civil society groups show Meru ranks fourth nationally in teenage pregnancies,” he noted. “Cases of defilement, rape, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation remain disturbingly high.”
Dorcas Mbatia, the vice chairperson of the club, expressed concern over the prolonged delays in the judicial process for SGBV-related cases. “We are aware that some sexual violence cases have been pending since 2017. The Judiciary must expedite these matters to ensure justice is served,” she urged.
Meru Deputy Governor Linda Kiome reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to supporting SGBV survivors, revealing plans to establish a safe center offering medical care, counselling, and legal guidance.
In support of the initiative, Meru Woman Representative Karambu Kailemia lauded the Press Club for taking a proactive role in raising awareness about mental health and gender-based violence.
Assistant Deputy County Commissioner Faith Wambui called on community members to report SGBV cases to the police, warning against resolving such matters through informal systems like Kangaroo courts or Njuri Ncheke elders.
Elias Murega, the county’s executive for youth and sports, decried the high rate of teenage pregnancies and called on men to stop exploiting young girls.
