JERUSHA MOMANYI: MEN MUST SPEAK UP, END SUFFERING IN SILENCE Nyamira County.

Speaking at a public event, Momanyi declared that GBV is rampant in local households and that elders and men must not fear speaking out. “Kuna GBV katika familia zetu. Wazee msiogope kusema,” she said, urging community leaders and ordinary men to report abuse instead of enduring it quietly.
 She narrated that two men in Gusii had their manhood cut off in separate incidents, yet the cases were privatised and kept out of public view. The situations were deliberately hidden, she said, denying the victims justice and preventing the community from confronting the full scope of the problem.

Momanyi stressed that GBV is not a one-sided issue. While women and children often bear the brunt of reported cases, men also suffer physical and psychological abuse in silence due to cultural expectations of stoicism and fear of stigma. She challenged men to come forward, share their challenges, and seek help rather than suffer alone.

She equally urged women to do the right thing and take responsibility in their homes and communities. Families must reject violence in all its forms, she said, and both partners must uphold respect and accountability. Silence from any side enables the cycle of abuse to continue across generations.

Momanyi further called on authorities to take decisive action against alcohol abuse, which she linked directly to rising cases of sexual violence against young children. Youths who engage in drugs and excessive drinking, she warned, often end up committing rape and defilement of minors. Strict enforcement of laws on illicit brew and substance abuse, combined with community vigilance, is essential to protect children, she said.

 

The Woman Representative framed her remarks as part of a broader campaign against GBV in Nyamira and the wider Gusii region, where cases of domestic violence, femicide, defilement and other forms of abuse have drawn repeated concern from women leaders. Momanyi has previously joined fellow Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) members in condemning atrocities and pushing for stronger reporting, prosecution and support for survivors.

She called on elders to lead by example. Traditional leaders hold significant influence in Gusii society and can either perpetuate silence or open pathways for dialogue and justice. “Wazee msiogope kusema,” she repeated, emphasising that protecting the community requires confronting uncomfortable truths.

On the issue of alcohol and drugs, Momanyi linked substance abuse among the youth to a breakdown in social order that leaves children particularly vulnerable. She urged county and national authorities to intensify crackdowns on illegal alcohol, improve rehabilitation options and educate young people on the consequences of drug use. Communities, she said, must also take ownership by monitoring local dens and reporting suspicious activities that endanger minors.

Momanyi, a former teacher who entered politics through the Nyamira County Assembly before winning the Woman Representative seat, has consistently centred her work on women empowerment, education, health and anti-GBV initiatives. Her current push aligns with ongoing efforts by women legislators in the region who have described GBV rates in Gusii as alarming and have demanded better protection for vulnerable groups, including women, girls, children and persons with disabilities.