Nyanza leaders question authenticity of Domestic Violence Bill

KISUMU, KENYA: A section of Nyanza religious and community leaders have called for sanity in the National Assembly as it debates Domestic Violence Bill.

The leaders have warned that if not well debated, the Bill may soil cultural orientation of various communities in the country hence spoiling the aim of building a united family.

They challenged the legislators to strengthen the accepted cultural practices instead of replacing Kenyan cultures with the Western culture which promote disunity in families.

The leaders were reacting to a heated debate which ensued on Wednesday in Parliament which Members of Parliament were divided over what to include as gender violence.

Speaking to The Standard, Chairman Nyanza Council of Churches Bishop Ogonyo Ngede said the bill may lead to more problems in families than providing solutions to the existing problems.

Ngede said Christianity does not accept any form of violence but complex provisions on the social aspects of families may cause confusion to a lot of people.

"The battles may lead to court and even lead to conviction of some people but we have to take into consideration that instances of violence in families do affect children most," he said.

The Power of Jesus Around the World clergy said MPs must consider different cultures before deciding on what to classify as domestic violence and the specific penalties for various forms of violence.

Venerable Canon Joshua Owiti of the Anglican Church of Kenya, St Stephen Cathedral in Kisumu said the Bible spells that Jesus came to free the world from the oppressive laws.

He argued that wife inheritance which created much heat in the National Assembly on Wednesday was very unnecessary and must be debated soberly to avoid breaking families.

"The interventions in wife inheritance should be working towards strengthening its goal as spelt in the Bible which include to protect, support and defend the widowed family," said Cannon Owiti.

He added that the different cultures embraced by the different Kenyan Societies must be respected and protected to avoid fading of the cultures.

Owiti said lack of strong cultural institutions have caused more harm than good including thriving state of prostitution in the country.

"If a widowed wife is inherited, she is protected against sexual harassment by other parties which would have been otherwise interested in her and it symbolises a stable home," he said.

Chairman Luo Council of Elders Ker Riaga Ogalo also said the debates on the controversial bill must take into consideration the different cultures of the Kenyan people.

Riaga said previously domestic violence issues were solved by elders or clergy hence reducing aspects of family breakage.
"It is interesting to note that 'one man's food is another man's poison. Some cultures are accepted in various parts of the country but not accepted in some parts hence a blanket cover on what constitutes domestic violence may cause more chaos," said Riaga.

A drift ensued between male and female MPs on Wednesday over the inclusion of marital rape, wife inheritance, sexual harassment and wife beating as domestic violence.

The Bill was mostly supported by female legislator while their male counterparts opposed it.