Prof Mbote: More needs to be done to eradicate domestic violence

Prof.Annie Kamere Mbote is interviewed for the position of Chief Justice by members of the Judicial Service Commission at the Supreme court on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Prof Patricia Kameri Mbote avers that more needs to be done as regards domestic violence cases, and as far as protection of the victims goes.

‘’We need to work with other justice sector actors, state and non-state, (to solve the problem of Domestic Violence) because with Covid-19, when you see the statistics, you panic,’’ she told the JSC panel on Tuesday.

Prof Mbote explained how the International Convention on all Forms of Discrimination against women shows that dealing with domestic violence is difficult considering that family members of the victims might be protective but shift allegiance in the same course.

“A victim leaves the family to report but where will they go back to? There is no shielding of the person from the fallout,” she added.

The former Dean at the School of Law, University of Nairobi called for the introduction of more laws to protect the victims of Domestic Violence, adding that since it occurs in the family, dealing with it in the courts has posed a great challenge as the victims are not protected.

Her statement comes at a time when the country is witnessing increased cases of domestic violence.

Last week, a police constable attached to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi’s office shot and killed his wife, before turning the gun on himself, in an apparent murder-suicide.

Hadson Mkondo Wakise who was attached to VIP protection at the Ministry of Interior shot his wife Pauline Wakasa, a traffic officer attached to Nairobi’s Kilimani Police Station.

Prof.Annie Kamere Mbote when she was interviewed for the position of Chief Justice by members of the Judicial Service Commission at the Supreme court on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Prior, a Kenya Defence Forces officer was killed at Kahawa Wendani in Kiambu County after getting embroiled in an argument with the spouse.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigation reported that the man was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife Violet Asale on the night of the incident.