KISUMU, Kenya — A community dialogue convened by STAWISHA DADA in Kisumu County has underscored the urgent need for men to take a more active role in preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and advancing gender equality.
The engagement, attended by the Kisumu Regional Office of the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), brought together men from diverse backgrounds, including professionals, youth, religious leaders, and informal sector workers. The forum provided a safe and structured space for reflection on responsibility, influence, and accountability in addressing GBV within families and communities.
Unlike conventional sensitisation forums, the dialogue moved beyond awareness creation to confront a central question: what practical and sustained action should men take to end GBV?
Participants acknowledged that while awareness of GBV has improved in recent years, harmful behaviours and attitudes remain deeply entrenched in social and cultural systems. The discussions emphasised that knowledge alone is not sufficient to drive change.
Men were therefore called upon to step forward as active agents of change taking up roles as advocates, mentors, and allies in preventing violence, supporting survivors, and promoting safer community environments.
Participants reflected on how entrenched gender norms in some contexts have normalised dominance, discouraged emotional expression, and contributed to the silence surrounding abuse. The dialogue encouraged a shift towards healthier, more constructive expressions of masculinity.
